Contact Lens Exam
According to the American Optometric Association, parents should schedule at least one exam for their child between the ages of three and five. Catching visual issues like farsightedness or nearsightedness before your child starts school is critical to his or her success as a learner.
Once children start school, the AOA recommends that they complete a pediatric eye exam in New Albany, MS, once a year until they are 18. They can then transition to the biannual eye exam recommended for healthy adults.
What You Should Know About Your Child’s First Visit to an Optometrist
An important thing to remember about your child’s first eye exam is that it differs from a visual screening. Most hospitals conduct visual screenings of newborns that involve inspecting the external eye, eyelids, and reflexes when exposed to bright stimuli. Your child may also have had a brief visual screening at preschool. Pediatric eye exams are much more in-depth because Dr. Michael Weeden checks for visual problems and eye diseases.
At Weeden Eye Clinic, we do not expect pediatric patients to act like mini-adults. We recommend that you bring books or toys to keep your child busy in the waiting room and to schedule the appointment for a time of day when they are most alert. Dr. Weeden also recognizes that most children between the ages of three and five cannot read beyond recognizing a few letters. We adjust the pediatric eye exam to the child’s level.
Pediatric Eye Exam Tests
The visual acuity test is an industry standard for testing how well patients can see at a distance. Instead of using letters on a chart, we use pictures and ask your child to describe what they see. The pictures are largest on the top and smallest at the bottom. Some are crisp and sharp, while others are intentionally blurrier. The results of this test alone can usually tell us if a child needs glasses or not.
During the exam, Dr. Weeden uses special equipment to test the following:
- Alignment of the eyes
- Color vision
- Depth perception
- Eye movement and tracking
- Visual field
The information gathered from these measurements helps Dr. Weeden determine whether your child has astigmatism, tear duct obstruction, or lazy eye. All of these are common childhood eye disorders that may require follow-up treatment. For example, a lazy eye typically requires one eye patching, followed by vision therapy. A tear duct obstruction may require minor surgery, while prescription glasses are usually enough to treat astigmatism.
Schedule Your Child’s Eye Exam
Whether your child is in preschool, grade school, or high school, scheduling an annual pediatric eye exam in New Albany, MS, helps them do well in their studies. Clear vision and treatment for eye conditions also help them enjoy life to the fullest. Please reach out today to schedule your child’s yearly appointment at Weeden Eye Clinic.
