What to Expect at a Child’s First Eye Exam?

Parents want to give their kids the best of everything. Be it a healthy diet, plenty of good quality sleep, outdoor time, and the best education, parents want to do it all for their little ones. What some parents forget about is caring specifically for their kids’ eye health.

Whether for reading or writing, seeing people, playing sports, riding a bike, or simply going about their daily life, a healthy vision plays an important role. It isn’t just about seeing what’s ahead of them but experiencing the everyday joys.

This is why your child deserves the best eye care. If they haven’t had a comprehensive checkup, this may be their first ever evaluation. It’s an important milestone to achieve because school screenings and pediatric tests may be of some help, but they can also miss out on a lot more.

When Should A Child Have Their First Eye Exam?

Many parents visiting us say, “We thought our child’s school vision screenings were accurate, but they missed out so much, and our child is suffering.” It’s disheartening to hear and watch kids miss out so much. While school screenings may be accurate, they are precise only to the level they are designed for. These screenings aren’t comprehensive and cannot diagnose many eye conditions. Often, these can be unreliable and only offer that false sense of proper evaluation, delaying the necessary treatment.

This makes it critical for you, as a parent, to understand that your child eyes some extra TLC. An comprehensive eye exam with an optometrist is important. Depending solely on school or pediatric checkups can leave your child’s vision at risk. Visit your nearest eye doctor for the very first eye exam during the following timelines:

Less than 2 months of age – To assess the baby’s response to light and other things

4 months old – To see if they are following objects

6-12 months – This is when they’re experiencing a major growth curve

1-3 years – For the very first comprehensive screening

3-6 years – When preschool begins to keep a check on their eye health

Kindergarten – To know if they’re able to read, write, and see clearly

When they are older, we recommend going for yearly eye exams to monitor any changes. As your child’s vision needs evolve, they shouldn’t have to struggle in their daily life at home and school.

What Happens During the Visit?

Eye exams can feel scary to kids. Often, we have seen even parents stressing about it. Don’t worry, these aren’t actually intimidating if you are consulting a knowledgeable and compassionate eye care professional. Optometrists who are trained and experienced in treating young kids are your best bet.

At Maple Grove Eye Doctors, we make every visit fun for all kids. They don’t fret it, and it is easy for us to identify whether or not something is troubling them. Usually, we start with a quick chat with parents and ask about their family history and if they have noticed anything different with their child.

Kids who come to our office for an evaluation are also encouraged to look at different images, shapes, and moving objects in addition to reading alphabets. It allows us to assess how well kids can see things and ensure that both eyes work well as a team. We also check their sight to determine if they need glasses. We stop there!We also evaluate the health of their eyes, inside and out and rule out the possibilities of any other problems like lazy eye, squint, and glaucoma. It is a comprehensive evaluation, and most kids leave feeling proud of their superhero vision.

Starting Early Is Important

Healthy vision isn’t just about seeing well. It’s about every aspect of the child’s life. It’s about reading at a good speed, comprehending well, focusing on different things, proper coordination, and being confident in public settings. Indeed, it is about clearly seeing what’s in front of their eyes, which indirectly impacts several other everyday activities as well.

For this reason, parents should schedule regular eye exams for their child annually, at a minimum because kids grow fast, and as they grow, their vision changes even more quickly. Routine exams help identify any problems early on, and keep their eye health in check. Since a lot of learning and development of a child is visual, a clear, crisp vision generally means better confidence and the ability to do things independently.

Consult an Optometrist for Better Assistance

Optometrists are trained eye care professionals who can evaluate your child’s visual health. School screenings and pediatricians can sometimes fall short. These eye care professionals have the tools, knowledge, and resources that can deliver extensive and personalized care. This helps preserve the child’s vision, not just now but in the long run.

When your child’s vision remains healthy, it positively impacts their social interactions, learning, and overall confidence. Even if they pass a school screening, their vision can change rapidly, and regular evaluations by an optometrist are essential as your child grows. Comprehensive eye exams can accurately identify conditions such as nearsightedness or farsightedness, suggest whether they need glasses to correct the worsening vision, and offer tailored advice for helping kids improve their vision. This ensures that the optometrist is right by your child’s side in their journey towards good sight.

Book Your Child’s Eye Exam at Maple Grove Eye Doctors

If your child hasn’t yet had a comprehensive eye evaluation, now is the time! Book an eye exam today with the Maple Eye Grove Doctors optometrists so your child can see clearly and with ease. We go above and beyond to make every child feel comfortable at our office. We don’t just have them see a chart. A comprehensive eye exam is an extensive examination to assess the health and development of your child’s eyes and their specific needs. Call us at 763-416-0622 to schedule an appointment. You can also email us at info@maplegroveeye.vision.