As a parent, making sure that every level of your child’s health and well-being are monitored when they are young will be one of your biggest concerns. Just as you will make an effort to take your child for regular well-care checkups and visits at a doctor, you should also pencil in time for pediatric eye exams in New Orleans. The eyes have a lot to do with the overall development of your child as they grow throughout the different stages of childhood. Take a look at some of the most frequent questions parents have about pediatric eye exams and the answers all parents should know.
Why Are Pediatric Eye Exams Important?
Eye exams are designed to catch problems with eyes, eye health, and vision as soon as possible so they can be properly treated. If a child is having issues with their vision because of an undiagnosed or unrecognized problem, it can slow their development in other ways as well. For example, a child who can’t see very well may not have good hand-eye coordination and may have problems when they start school.
Additionally, there are certain eye health conditions that children are screened for during a pediatric eye exam. A few examples include:
Amblyopia – This condition is a visual deficiency in an eye that appears to be and functions as a typically healthy eye.
Eye-Teaming Deficiencies – This condition causes the eyes to not work together as they should when your child is focusing on an object, but it is a condition that can usually be corrected.
Strabismus – often referred to as cross-eyes or lazy-eyes, strabismus means the eyes are not lining up in the proper position, and the condition is quite common in children. When caught early, treatments are available to help correctly align the eyes.
What Happens During a Pediatric Eye Exam?
There are several types of tests and exams that will be part of a comprehensive eye exam for your child. Your child’s eyesight and visual range will be tested, of course, but there are several other things the optometrist will be checking for, such as the aforementioned pediatric eye conditions, eye muscle function, and more.
During the pediatric eye exam with an eye doctor in New Orleans, the optometrist will determine if your child needs any form of vision correction, such as vision therapy or glasses. If there are any issues present, you may be asked to come in for further tests and exams as your child gets older to monitor the issue and perform necessary treatments to help with those problems.
At What Ages Should Children Have Eye Exams?
Most doctors agree that children should have eye exams at certain ages. The American Optometric Association says it is best if a child has their first exam by the time they are six months of age. If there are no immediate problems present, your child should have another eye exam at about three years old, and another exam should be scheduled just before the time they will start school.
The eyes are a vital organ for all of us, but for growing and developing children, they help them encounter and grow in the world around them. Therefore, pediatric eye exams are highly important. To schedule an appointment for a pediatric eye exam in New Orleans, Louisiana, reach out to us so we can help.