Kids Eye Exam

What to Know About Going to a Kids' Eye Doctor

When you have concerns about your child's vision, your pediatrician may recommend you make an appointment with a kids' eye doctor. You may also seek out a kids' eye doctor if your child experiences an eye injury. You might also notice that your child’s eye alignment isn’t straight. A pediatric eye doctor can help if one or both of their eyes turn inward or outward instead of straight ahead. Because kids are generally healthy, you may not have anticipated the need to visit a specialist for your child, not even an eye doctor. But managing your child's eye health is important.

If your child can't make out the words printed in a textbook or see what the teacher writes on the board, they may have trouble learning at school. Eye injuries that are left untreated may cause long-term vision and learning problems. Here's what you should know about what to expect from a kid’s eye exam at Clarkson Eyecare.

Reasons To See A Kids' Eye Doctor

All children should receive a vision screening from either a pediatrician or eye doctor before their first birthday, between the ages of 3 and 5 and again at age 5. Children who were born prematurely may have vision issues and may also need a comprehensive eye exam from a kids' eye doctor. Often, these regular screenings can be completed by a pediatrician. Sometimes, though, a pediatrician may recommend that you take your child to an eye doctor after they screen your child's vision during a wellness visit. Clarkson Eyecare specializes in pediatric eye care that can't be performed in a standard check-up.

It is also possible that a school nurse suggests you make an appointment with an eye doctor after a vision screening at school. Other times, teachers may tell parents that students squint when looking at the board.If you notice your child seems unable to see things that are close or far away, it's worth mentioning to your pediatrician, who may suggest that you see an eye doctor. A pediatrician may refer your child to an eye doctor for other reasons, including a lazy eye (amblyopia) or a family history of vision problems. Kids with diabetes should see an eye doctor annually to keep tabs on their eye health, since diabetes complications may cause vision problems. It is also important for your child to see an eye doctor anytime they injure an eye.

What to Expect During Your Kid's Eye Exam

A child's eye exam at Clarkson Eyecare has some similarities to the eye exams that you may get, but there are also some differences. Your child may or may not need drops to dilate their eyes during an exam. The doctor may use smaller, less intimidating tools to check your child's vision, such as a handheld, wand-sized retinoscope instead of the larger phoropter that adults look through. Younger children who are unable to read may need to identify pictures instead of letters during vision screenings. The eye doctor may have your child look at moving images on a computer monitor or use handheld devices to assess their eye function. They may also test your child's vision with interactive play, holding up a toy so that your child can track it as the doctor moves it around.

Kids' eye doctors also screen children for various eye conditions that could affect their vision as they grow. The pediatric eye doctors at Clarkson Eyecare perform a variety of these tests to ensure that all parts of your child's vision are tested. Proper vision care from a young age sets your eyes to be healthy throughout your life.

How To Find A Kid-Friendly Eye Doctor

If your child needs to see an eye doctor, consider looking for someone who specializes in treating kids or for someone who sees pediatric patients regularly and knows how to make your child feel comfortable during an eye exam. The best kids' eye doctors are patient, comfortable talking to children and able to incorporate games or other fun aspects into an exam.

Some eye doctors who treat children have received extra training. Pediatric ophthalmologists have graduated from medical school, completed a residency in ophthalmology and completed a fellowship training in pediatric ophthalmology. Pediatric optometrists have graduated from optometry school and completed a residency in pediatric optometry.You can ask your pediatrician or health insurance company for eye doctor recommendations. If your friends' children wear glasses, you may want to ask them to refer you to someone they like.

Schedule a Kid's Eye Exam Today

Clarkson Eyecare is staffed with doctors ready to form your kid’s eye exam. We even have specialists in vision therapy in a few locations! Find a location near you and Schedule an appointment today.

Three Rivers
Three Rivers
Ann Arbor Children's Clinic for Vision Enhancement
New Albany
West Park
Okemos
Independence Plaza
Keller
Woodlands
Legacy
Stonebrook
Bricktown
Elk River 
West Broad St.
South Columbus
Hilliard
Alliance
Pontiac
Dearborn Heights
Howell Township
Tecumseh
Ann Arbor Plymouth
Coventry
Mansfield
Brunswick
Southeast Novi
Grand River
Matawan
Pleasant Hill
Imperial
Edwardsville Club Center
Edwardsville Crossing
Clarksville
Maplewood
Bexley
Union
Sharpsburg
Conyers
Lilburn
Anderson
Delta Township
Saline
Suwanee
West Chester Union Centre
West Chester Tylersville
Lake Ridge
Clifton
Hazlet Plaza
Red Bank
Columbia Rock Bridge Red Oak
Jennings
Elizabethtown
Haslett
Fern Creek
Shakopee
Lakeland
Lebanon
Warrenton
Chesterfield
Centralia
Wildwood
Pacific
Butler Hill
Arnold Park Mall
Valrico
Wesley Chapel
Calvert City
Shea Boulevard
Affton
Berryhill
Tampa (Busch)
Snellville
Braselton
Ft. Mitchell
Paducah
Lone Oak
The Spec Shoppe: St. Joseph
Virginia Beach
Perdido
Davis Highway
Willoughby
Manchester
Austell (EW Connector)
Alpharetta
Highland
Granite City Nameoki
Kenwood
Harrison
Lutz Sunlake Centre
Plant City North
Trinity
Pavilion Crossing
Navarre
Gulf Breeze
Nine Mile
Town & Country Crossing
Tesson Ferry
Telegraph Plaza
Creve Coeur
Overland
South County
St. Louis Hills
Central West End
South Grand
Downtown St. Louis
Milford
Mariemont
Loveland
Kettering
Fairfield
Centerville
Blue Ash
Dublin
Reynoldsburg
Riverview
Downtown Columbus
Riverview Vision Performance Center
Town Street
Eureka
O'Fallon South
94 Crossing
Arnold
79 Crossing
Franconia
Shepherdsville
Springhurst
Valley Station
141 & Olive
Chesterfield Valley
Ann Arbor on Main
Collinsville
Columbia
Middletown
Festus
Middleburg Heights
West Camino Del Sol
Beacon Center (Alexandria)
Perry
Ballwin
Countryside
Fenton
Farmington
Breese
Cold Spring
Lake Lansing Rd.
Western Hills
Worthington
Bogey Hills
Florissant Dunn Rd.
Florissant HWY 67
Kirkwood
Wentzville
North Lebanon
Benton
O'Fallon North
Mid Rivers
Bardstown
Sea Girt Mall
Eatontown
Wooster
Delaware
Lake St. Louis
Kissimmee
Towncenter Plaza (Sterling)
Manassas
Fredericksburg
Westerville
Green
Northfield
Mt. Orab
Morrow
Medina
Marysville
Gahanna
Webster Groves
Washington
Troy
Mason and Manchester
Rock Hill
Perryville
Maryland Heights
Clayton
High Ridge
Ellisville
Brentwood Pointe
Chanhassen
Oxboro
Murray
Mayfield
Waterloo
Swansea
Shiloh
Mt. Vernon
Godfrey
Fairview Heights
Belleville
Alton
Vinings
Woodbine
Miramar
Fort Walton
Columbia Broadway