Children’s Vision Exams During Their First Year

During the first year of a childs life, it is important to pay attention for several signs of possible vision issues. One of them is strabismus. This is whenever the eyes are misaligned and do not move with each other. An additional indication is nystagmus. This is whenever wavy, moving or wiggling eye movements continue after a baby is three calendar months old.

Vision Therapy is a process to help young children develop muscles and train their eyes.  Read this article to learn more about vision therapy.

Premature infants or those born in families that have a history of eye tumors, congenital cataracts and genetic disease should be examined by an eye specialist in the nursery. Infants should be evaluated to be sure that every eye focuses, there is no internal eye disease and the eyes are straight.

It takes longer for depth perception and color vision to develop and for eye muscles to begin working together. Since you know your child best, you should take him or her for an eye assessment if you notice that the eyes are turning out or in, or if they are appearing white in photos.  You should take your little one for an eye examination if you notice a physical change or an indication that his/her vision is not building normally.

If the physician has more concerns about the vision of your child, the next step is to refer him or her to an eye specialist. When assessing the eyes of children, doctors perform a series of tests to evaluate their vision and look out for eye ailments. Each test evaluates a different aspect of the eye health or vision of a child.

Eye assessments for children help confirm that minors have the visual skills required to perform well in school and other areas. These skills include distance vision, near vision, focusing skills, hand eye coordination, peripheral awareness and binocular coordination. Minors do not always know what normal vision is. They are not likely to complain of vision problems.

Vision is closely linked to the learning process. It is essential for learning related vision problems to be detected early so that the schoolwork of your child will not be affected. If your child is not performing well in school, an eye exam can rule out vision related learning problems.

Vision problems are more responsive to treatment when they are diagnosed early. According to the American Optometric Association, babies should have their first eye assessment at the age of six months. Kids should have additional assessments at age three, and at about age five and six.

For school aged kids, the American Optometric Association recommends eye exams every two years if vision correction is not required. Children who need contact lenses or eyeglasses should be examined every year. An ophthalmologist or optometrist can advise you if your child needs more exams.

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