Don't forget an eye exam on your back-to-school check list!

Details: Published: 29 July 2018

Back to school excitement is in full swing here at Eye Care Center! We are so excited about our back to school specials we are offering this year. One thing to keep in mind with school starting again is how important vision is in determining school performance. Sometimes, it is hard for kids to tell that they are even struggling with their vision, especially if they don't know any different. 5-10% of preschoolers and 25% of school aged children have eye problems! Many can be detected and treated with regular eye exams.

What age should my child get an eye exam?

According to the American Optometric Association, an eye exam is recommended at 6 months of age, at 3 years of age and then before starting school, and every one to two years thereafter.

Why are eye exams important?

Children need all of the following for proper eye and vision development:

Near vision
Distance vision
Binocular coordination (two eyes working together)
Eye movement skills
Focusing skills

These are all evaluated during an annual eye exam.

What should I expect at an eye appointment?

A case history
Testing of the vision
Testing of the eye's ability to work together
Eye health evaluation
Determination of prescription

Do my child's eyes have to be dilated??

Yes.... We will discuss this more before-hand, but usually we dilate all kids, especially if it is their first eye exam.

Why?! Isn't that just awful, and traumatic?!

No! We try to make it as quick and easy as possible. Dilation in children is SO important. Not only are we able to evaluate the full ocular health when dilated, but kid's prescription and vision truly depends on us dilating the eyes, especially at the first exam. Kid's focusing systems are so strong, they play a lot large role in prescription, and thus functioning of the eys and vision, compared to adults. Because of this, we need to evaluate the vision and prescription with their focusing system relaxed, which occurs during a dilation. We have a therapy dog, a super friendly and sweet golden-doodle, Laci, to help ease any anxiety that may be associated with a quick eye drop.