A child’s health is a fragile and ever-evolving part of their life. As your child’s body grows and changes, so do their needs. It’s essential that you stay on the ball and keep your kid up to date on all the medical procedures necessary for their age. Eye development is an important process to manage and foster effectively. Even the slightest lapse in care could result in serious damage to your child’s vision.
Children need to have their eyes examined regularly by a Winnipeg child eye exam professional. It’s the only way to anticipate and respond to various impairments before they get worse or start to impede your child’s life. Broadly, there are three critical ages when your children need to have their eyes examined. The following is a rundown of those ages, and what they mean to the development of your children’s sight.
#1 – 6 Months
According to the American Optometric Association, infants should have their first eye exam at about 6 months. This is important as roughly 5-10% of preschoolers are reported to have vision problems. As such, catching any potential problems early is essential.
- Infants should have their eyes checked by a pediatrician or a family physician of your choosing.
- At this age, there is no need to see a specialist unless it is recommended by one of the aforementioned medical professionals.
- This examination is going to be largely about understanding your child’s general eye health and visual capacity.
- It’s a diagnostic to determine what needs to be done moving forward, and how best to try and mitigate any problems.
This very general examination is essentially the starting line from which all of your decisions and treatment options will spring. At this stage, there’s not necessarily a need to panic if your child’s vision is less than stellar. The eye is developing and your child’s vision is changing, so bear that in mind and use this information to discern your child’s treatment moving forward.
#2 – 3 Years
Going into preschool, children need to have their eyes examined again, as the learning process could be potentially impaired otherwise. Kids at this age need to receive the proper care and education to grow into the elementary students they’ll soon be.
Ensuring that your child’s vision is up to snuff can give you peace of mind that they’ll be well equipped to handle the days ahead. Alternatively, learning that your child has a vision problem at this age can help you prepare them with the proper treatment or equipment.
- Again, a pediatrician or family physician should conduct this exam.
- Based on the results of your child’s previous exam, you’ll want to tailor the content of this one accordingly.
- Broadly, this exam will focus on eye health and visual acuity.
- This test is for discerning the clarity and depth with which your child can see, and determining whether or not they need some sort of aid.
This exam is about taking action. You’ve gathered information across the first three years of your child’s life, and now you’re ready to make a decision. Whether it’s glasses, contacts, or something more involved, this exam will tell you what you need to do to get your child ready for preschool.
#3 – 5 Or 6 Years
Again, as your child reaches a turning point in their lives, having their eyes examined is essential. Going into first grade their course load and personal responsibilities are going to increase radically, and you need to make sure that they’re properly equipped to handle this change.
- This is the final exam that should be conducted by a pediatrician or family physician.
- This exam will focus on eye alignment, coordination, and visual acuity.
- If your child fails this exam, it’s probably time to take them to a specialist to get a better grip on what exactly is affecting your child’s vision.
Moving into first grade means that your child needs to be functioning on a whole new level. Getting the best impression possible of your child’s vision is important to their academic and personal growth moving into elementary school.
Conclusion
Ultimately, having your child’s eyes examined frequently is a critical step in ensuring that they remain equipped for the life changes that are ahead of them. Getting them tested at critical turning points in their personal and educational development helps you prepare and protect them.
With proper vision comes greater autonomy, teachability, and fun. Don’t let your child go through life blurry; bring them in for regular eye exams and watch as they grow into the self-reliant people you always knew they could be.