Adults are not the only one’s who need professional eyecare. In fact, children as young as one year of age can benefit from receiving eye care on a regular basis. The sooner we treat a child’s vision, the better chance they have of growing We offer pediatric eye care in our clinic, in addition to treating adults.
What is pediatric eye care?
In a nutshell, it is very much the same as eye care for adults. Taking a child to an optician so that they can have their eyes tested, make sure that they are seeing properly and ensuring that there is no early onset of diseases or conditions that could lead to further complications, including blindness, are all part of pediatric eye care.
Just like any pediatric care, it is very important for parents to make it a priority to ensure that their children go see the eye doctor, or optician, at least once every two years. If the child has a condition, then they will need to make more frequent visits. Pediatric eye care is essential to the overall and holistic well-being of a child.
How often should a child see an eye doctor?
Under normal circumstances, it is recommended that a child sees an eye care specialist at least once every two years. Since the eyes can change, children go to school which can put an excess of strain on their eyes, or other conditions can occur, a 24 month period is a long time for the eyes and getting a checkup is a necessity.
It is important to note that two-year number is simply a recommendation, and parents should not go more than two years without taking their children in for pediatric eye care. However, if a child begins to complain of blurry vision or not being able to see properly, then it is important for the parent to bring the child in immediately so that their eyes can be properly tested.
How can a parent know it is time to see the optician?
One of the most common questions asked by parents is how they can know that their child is potentially needing glasses. The answer to that, if the parent is not already taking the child in at least once every two years for a checkup, is the child themselves. In most cases, children will start to complain if they are having difficulty reading. Often times the child will complain about not being able to see the blackboard clearly in school, have difficulty reading or have other symptoms such as recurring headaches.
There are also more subtle signs of a child having difficulty with their eyes. For example, there have been cases of students who normally do very well in school struggling with their studies. Sometimes, this can be because they are unable to concentrate, have headaches or are simply not able to clearly read the material. If this is occurring with a person’s child, they should ask questions to see if the eyes may be a factor. Or just bring the child in for an eye exam, which may help determine if vision is a factor or rule it out as a factor.
What kind of eyewear is advisable?
When it comes to pediatric eye care, there is no specific recommendation for the type of eyewear that is advisable. This depends on the child, the age, responsibility level, the comfort of the child and the parents. In order to get the best determination possible, the easiest way to find an eyewear solution is to bring the child in for an examination and then decide what type of glasses or contacts a child wants and the parents are comfortable with. As such, we encourage visiting our office today.