While your pediatrician likely performs a quick vision screening during your child’s annual check-up, it’s crucial to understand that these screenings are not a substitute for a thorough eye examination by a specialist. A Paediatric Eye Doctor possesses the specialised tools and expertise to comprehensively assess your child’s eye health and visual skills. These skills, including binocular vision and eye movement accuracy, are foundational for learning and development. Experts recommend that children see a paediatric eye doctor for their first comprehensive eye exam even before they start school.
If you’re looking for a paediatric eye doctor in your area, you can easily find one experienced in children’s eye care through online directories.
Vision Screenings vs. Comprehensive Eye Exams: What’s the Difference?
Many schools conduct vision screenings, aiming to identify children who might have vision problems that could hinder their learning. However, it’s vital to know that even if your child passes a school vision screening, a comprehensive eye exam with a paediatric eye doctor is still highly recommended. Vision screenings are limited and do not check for the full spectrum of vision issues that can affect children’s development and well-being. A paediatric eye doctor conducts a much more in-depth evaluation.
A young child has their eyes examined by a paediatric eye doctor using specialized equipment.
When Should Your Child First See a Paediatric Eye Doctor?
Leading eye care professionals recommend that children have their first eye exam at six months old. This early exam by a paediatric eye doctor ensures that their eyes are developing normally from infancy.
Following this initial check-up, it’s advised to schedule a second exam with a paediatric eye doctor around age 2 or 3, and then again before your child starts school. Regular visits to a paediatric eye doctor are key to monitoring vision development throughout childhood.
What to Expect During Your Child’s Visit to a Paediatric Eye Doctor
When you visit a paediatric eye doctor for the first time, be prepared to discuss your child’s medical history. This includes details about birth history such as any pregnancy or delivery complications, birth weight, and gestational age.
The paediatric eye doctor will also inquire about family history of eye diseases and your child’s medical history, including any previous eye problems, treatments, surgeries, current medications, and allergies.
Make sure to inform your paediatric eye doctor about any delays in motor development you’ve noticed, and if you have observed any of the following signs:
- Frequent eye rubbing or excessive blinking
- Difficulty maintaining eye contact
- Poor eye tracking skills
It’s also important to mention if your child has previously failed a vision screening at school or during a pediatrician’s visit. Sharing these observations with your paediatric eye doctor will help them tailor the examination to your child’s specific needs.
Eye Testing for Infants (6 Months to 2 Years) by a Paediatric Eye Doctor
For babies aged six months and older, a paediatric eye doctor will assess critical visual functions such as eye focusing skills, colour vision, and depth perception. Typically, a paediatric eye doctor will use three main tests to determine if your baby’s eyes are developing as expected.
- Pupil responses: This test evaluates how your baby’s pupils react to light, checking if they constrict and dilate appropriately.
- Fixate and follow: The paediatric eye doctor will assess your baby’s ability to focus on and follow a moving object. The ability to fixate usually develops within the first month after birth, while the ability to track objects typically develops by around three months of age.
- Preferential looking: This test uses special cards, blank on one side and striped on the other, to measure your baby’s vision. The paediatric eye doctor observes which side attracts the baby’s gaze, providing insights into their visual acuity.
A paediatric eye doctor uses preferential looking cards to test an infant’s vision.
Eye Exams for Preschool Children (2 to 5 Years) with a Paediatric Eye Doctor
Preschool is a time of rapid development as children learn to engage in activities like colouring, drawing, and playing with building blocks. A comprehensive eye exam by a paediatric eye doctor for this age group includes tests for several crucial visual skills:
- Visual acuity: To measure sharpness of vision.
- Lazy eye (amblyopia): To detect if one eye is weaker than the other.
- Stereopsis (3D vision): To assess depth perception.
- Eye tracking: To evaluate the ability to follow moving objects smoothly.
- Convergence: To check how well the eyes work together when focusing on near objects.
- Color vision: To identify any colour deficiencies.
- Ocular health: To examine the overall health of the eyes.
These visual skills are essential for a child’s healthy development and to prepare them for school. If you notice your child struggling with recognizing shapes, colours, numbers, or letters, it’s important to inform your paediatric eye doctor, as these could be signs of an underlying vision problem.
LEA symbols, which include an apple, house, square, and circle, are often used by a paediatric eye doctor to test visual acuity in young children who aren’t yet able to recognize letters. Random dot stereopsis tests, using dot pattern charts and 3D glasses, measure 3D vision, indicating how well the eyes work in coordination. Colour vision is typically assessed using tests like the Ishihara Test, which uses coloured dot patterns.
Retinoscopy is a technique a paediatric eye doctor may use to objectively measure refractive error. By shining light into the child’s eye and observing the reflection from the retina, the doctor can detect conditions like myopia. The paediatric eye doctor will also conduct a thorough ocular examination to assess the health of the cornea, iris, lens, retina, and eyelids, ruling out any potential eye diseases.
It’s important to schedule regular visits with a paediatric eye doctor to ensure early detection and diagnosis of any vision problems your child might have.
A paediatric eye doctor uses a retinoscope to assess a child’s refractive error.
Eye Testing for Older Children (6 to 18 Years) by a Paediatric Eye Doctor
For older children, a comprehensive eye exam with a paediatric eye doctor is similar to younger children’s exams but includes additional tests focused on visual skills critical for reading, learning, and sports.
A paediatric eye doctor will assess the following visual skills:
- Visual acuity: Tested at near, intermediate, and far distances to ensure clear vision for all activities, from reading to classroom learning.
- Eye Focusing: Evaluating the ability to maintain clear vision when switching focus and sustaining focus for extended periods, essential for tasks like note-taking and reading.
- Eye tracking: Assessing the ability to smoothly follow lines of text or moving objects.
- Eye teaming: Checking how well both eyes work together for coordinated vision, important for reading and other close-up tasks.
- Eye-hand coordination: Evaluating the ability to use visual information to guide hand movements, crucial for sports and activities like drawing.
- Visual perception: Assessing the ability to organize and interpret visual information, which includes:
- Recognition: Distinguishing between similar letters or shapes.
- Comprehension: Visualizing and understanding text.
- Retention: Remembering and recalling visual details.
These tests help a paediatric eye doctor identify vision problems that are not just about 20/20 eyesight but encompass a range of visual skills vital for academic and physical performance. Undetected visual problems can often be the root cause of learning and behavioural difficulties in children. Reduced visual skills can also lead to physical symptoms like headaches and eye strain. Therefore, these comprehensive visual skill assessments are integral to an exam by a paediatric eye doctor.
Understanding Myopia (Nearsightedness) from Your Paediatric Eye Doctor
Myopia, or nearsightedness, is a common vision condition affecting many children. A paediatric eye doctor can diagnose and manage myopia effectively. Myopia makes distant objects appear blurry.
It often starts in childhood as eyes grow, affecting up to 42% of school-aged children. Myopia occurs when the eye grows too long or the cornea is too curved, causing light to focus in front of the retina instead of on it. A paediatric eye doctor can explain that myopia typically worsens until the teenage years and stabilizes around age 20.
Signs and symptoms of myopia to watch for, as advised by a paediatric eye doctor:
- Squinting to see distant objects like the board or TV
- Sitting very close to screens
- Preferring to sit at the front of the classroom
- Holding books very close to the eyes
- Lack of interest in sports requiring distance vision
Myopia is usually corrected with eyeglasses or contact lenses prescribed by a paediatric eye doctor.
Understanding Hyperopia (Farsightedness) from Your Paediatric Eye Doctor
Hyperopia, or farsightedness, is another refractive error where near objects appear blurry. A paediatric eye doctor is essential for diagnosing and managing hyperopia in children.
Hyperopia affects about 13% of children aged 6-17. It occurs when the eye focuses light behind the retina, often because the eyeball is too short or the cornea is not curved enough. A paediatric eye doctor will explain that while often inherited, hyperopia can also result from developmental issues.
Hyperopia can impact visual development and academic performance. Consulting a paediatric eye doctor is crucial if you notice symptoms.
Symptoms of hyperopia include:
- Blurry near vision but clear distance vision
- Difficulty reading
- Headaches or fatigue after close work
- Eye strain
- Difficulty focusing on near objects
- Squinting
- Holding reading material at arm’s length
- Eyes turning inward when focusing
Hyperopia is typically corrected with eyeglasses or contact lenses prescribed by a paediatric eye doctor.
Why Pupil Dilation is Important for a Paediatric Eye Exam
During an eye exam, a paediatric eye doctor may use eye drops to dilate your child’s pupils. This process, called mydriasis, is crucial for a thorough examination of the inner eye. Pupil dilation allows the paediatric eye doctor to get a clear view of the lens, retina, and vitreous humour, essential for detecting eye diseases.
The paediatric eye doctor might also use cycloplegic drops to relax the eye’s focusing muscles, ensuring accurate measurement of refractive errors. This precise measurement helps in prescribing the correct eyeglasses or contact lenses for your child.
Will Dilation Drops Hurt My Child?
A paediatric eye doctor is experienced in making this process as comfortable as possible for children. Your child might feel a mild stinging or burning sensation for a few seconds after the drops are administered. This is temporary and normal.
After dilation, your child may experience blurry near vision and increased sensitivity to light for a few hours. These effects are temporary and gradually subside. It’s advisable to bring sunglasses to the appointment to minimize light sensitivity after seeing the paediatric eye doctor. Allergic reactions to dilating drops are rare, but it’s important to be aware of symptoms like dry mouth, flushed face, rapid pulse, or fever.
Can My Child Return to School After an Eye Exam with a Paediatric Eye Doctor?
Yes, usually your child can return to their regular activities, including daycare or school, after an eye exam with a paediatric eye doctor. While the blurred near vision and light sensitivity from dilation might be slightly uncomfortable, it generally does not prevent them from participating in normal school tasks.
If your child feels particularly uncomfortable due to the dilation, the paediatric eye doctor can provide a note for the school explaining the situation.
A paediatric eye doctor uses an eye chart to test a child’s visual acuity.
How Often Should Your Child Visit a Paediatric Eye Doctor?
Regular visits to a paediatric eye doctor are crucial for monitoring your child’s eye health and visual development. For children who do not need vision correction, the recommended schedule is:
- Between 6-12 months old
- Between 2-3 years old
- Between 4-5 years old
- Annually, from age 6 onwards
If your child has a refractive error or reduced visual skills, your paediatric eye doctor may recommend more frequent eye exams to monitor any changes.
Regular eye exams with a paediatric eye doctor are vital because children often don’t realize when their vision is changing and may struggle with undetected vision problems. Schedule an appointment with a paediatric eye doctor to ensure your child enjoys clear and comfortable vision, supporting their healthy development and learning.
