Importance of Routine Pediatric Eye Exams

Did you know that a newborn baby’s vision is mostly blurry? However, the vision system improves over time and becomes fully developed in the teen years. The importance of routine pediatric eye exams goes beyond ensuring your little one’s vision is not blurry. Eyes are the windows to the body. Therefore, routine eye exams can safeguard your child’s health.

 

Vision screening by your pediatrician is not enough. You should take your child to a pediatric eye doctor for a more comprehensive eye examination. According to the American Optometric Association, you need to establish a set schedule for your little one’s eye exams. Some of the reasons why routine eye exams are important include:

 

Freedom From Worry

When you take your child for routine eye examinations, you will have some much-needed peace of mind. As a loving and responsible parent, you desperately want your little angel to have the best start in life. Vision skills are essential for kids’ success in academics. 

 

Your little one needs good eye coordination, visual acuity, and visual perception to write, read, pay attention, and even play. According to research findings, up to 80 percent of learning happens through visual pathways. Taking your child for routine eye exams is the best way to ensure they see clearly and comfortably enough to succeed in school.

 

Early Detection of Eye and Vision Conditions

Does your child squint when looking at something? If so, it is a sign of a vision issue. Routine pediatric eye exams allow eye doctors to identify any irregularities in your little one’s eyes. As early as six months of age, your child should have an eye exam. 

 

Experts also recommend having children undergo eye exams when they turn three years old and before starting school. Your pediatric eye doctor may also check your child’s depth perception, visual acuity, eye movement, and eye alignment. This will provide an opportunity to address any problems early, helping them socialize and learn. 

 

Monitoring Changes

Your pediatric eye doctor will need to track the progress of your child’s visual system. This is only possible through routine eye exams. Parents should take their children for annual comprehensive vision and eye exams. This will help eye doctors optimize vision care and eye health, in addition to identifying any vision issues that may develop. 

 

Nearsightedness Is Becoming an Epidemic

The number of kids developing nearsightedness, also called myopia, is growing at an unprecedented rate. Furthermore, more kids are developing myopia at a very early age. This is a huge concern because kids who develop this condition early in life tend to experience a progression and a worsening of myopia. 

 

This worsening can continue throughout childhood. This puts kids at a greater risk of developing potentially sight-threatening eye problems later in life. 

 

Scheduling annual pediatric eye exams is the most effective way to determine your child’s risk of nearsightedness. When caught early, certain control measures can slow the condition’s progression. This will reduce your little one’s risk of developing more serious eye conditions later in life.


 

To understand the importance of routine pediatric eye exams, visit Trinity Eye Care at our office in Plano, Texas. You can also call (972) 895-9260 today to schedule an appointment.