Pediatric Eye Exams: What to Expect
Why is a pediatric eye exam important?
A child’s vision is critical to their overall development, including their ability to learn and succeed in school. Many vision problems in children can go undetected, as children are often unable to articulate their visual difficulties. Some common vision problems that can be detected during a pediatric eye exam include nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, amblyopia (lazy eye), strabismus (eye turn), and color blindness. Detecting these problems early and treating them promptly is crucial, as some vision problems can become permanent if left untreated.
In addition to detecting vision problems, a pediatric eye exam can also detect other eye health issues that may be present. For example, some eye diseases, such as glaucoma or cataracts, can develop at a young age, and can be signs of other systemic health issues, in addition to the eye problems a patient will develop if they go untreated.
What to expect during a pediatric eye exam
A pediatric eye exam is a comprehensive evaluation of your child’s vision and eye health. The exam usually takes about 30-45 minutes, and the doctor will use a variety of tools and tests to determine your child’s visual acuity, refractive error, and overall eye health.
The first part of the exam will involve a discussion with the doctor about your child’s medical and family history, as well as any symptoms or issues that you have noticed with your child’s vision. The doctor will also assess your child’s visual acuity, which is a measure of how clearly your child can see. This is usually done using a chart, such as a Snellen chart, that displays letters or symbols of varying sizes. Your child will be asked to cover one eye and read the letters on the chart from a set distance. In children who are not able to follow directions, there are other ways the ophthalmologist will check the vision. The next step is to evaluate your child’s refractive error, which is a measure of how well the eye focuses light. The doctor will then use a series of lenses to determine the best prescription for your child’s glasses, even in non-verbal children.
The doctor will also evaluate your child’s eye movement and alignment. This is done to determine if your child has any eye turns or if the eyes are misaligned. If a problem is detected, the doctor may prescribe patching or other treatment to help improve the alignment of the eyes.
In addition, the doctor will check the health of your child’s eyes, including the cornea, lens, and retina. The doctor will also assess the pressure inside the eye, which is important for detecting glaucoma.
Finally, the doctor will discuss the results of the exam with you and your child and make any necessary recommendations for treatment. This may include a prescription for glasses or contact lenses, patching therapy, or a referral to another specialist for further evaluation or treatment.
Schedule an eye exam today with Colorado Eye Surgeons.
