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.

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