What is the Right Age for a Child’s First Eye Exam?


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As a parent, do you find it challenging to keep up with all of the important milestones in your child’s life? It can be a trick to know when you need to schedule a checkup with the pediatrician, eye doctor, and dentist. Even if your child is in good health, it is important to stay consistent with these appointments. Early detection of potential problems can improve the situation if a doctor identifies symptoms that need to be treated.

Visual Health Supports Learning and Growth

Strong eyesight is essential so that your child can learn and develop. Vision is an integral part of learning, both for academics and daily skills. It has been found that vision can also play a part in seemingly unrelated issues, such as ADHD. If a child is experiencing behavioral or developmental issues, then it might be a good idea to schedule an appointment with a Vision Therapist.

Certain eye conditions, such as lazy eye, are reversible when detected early. Your optometrist can provide recommendations regarding treatments and solutions to maximize vision and eye health.

Eye Exams Through All Stages of Childhood

Even children as young as six months old can benefit from an eye exam. The optometrist will test for nearsightedness and farsightedness, as well as the way the eyes move and the alignment of the eyes. It is also important to make sure that the eyes are reacting the right way to changes of light in the room.

As a child grows, additional tests can be done to determine visual acuity and eyesight. Vision screening appointments often include eye chart tests, letters, and pictures.

Schedule an Eye Exam for Your Child

How long has it been since your child visited an eye doctor? Start with regular eye exams as early as six months old to set the foundation for healthy vision.

Do you have questions about eye care during childhood? Talk to the experts in the Temecula area: Dr. Gio Venitelli and Dr. Katie Dugan of Temecula and Murrieta Creek Optometry. Two convenient office locations are available: Murrieta at (951) 600-9226 or Temecula at (951) 302-1331