Did you know that 80 percent of your child’s learning happens visually? This means
if your child has untreated vision problems, it could impact them academically,
socially, and personally.
Your optometrist will check for many different things during your child’s yearly eye
exam. Pediatric eye exams are fairly similar to adult eye exams; your
optometrist will look for signs of nearsightedness, farsightedness, and any
structural abnormalities.
Here are three things you can expect to happen during your child’s yearly eye exam:
1. A review of your child’s history
At the beginning of your appointment, your doctor will likely want to review
your child’s health history. Let them know about any previous health or
vision problems. You can also fill them in on your child’s school history or
any activities they are involved in.
2. Several eye tests
Your child will have several different eye tests including a vision test, a pupil
test, and an eye movement test. The vision test will look test your child’s
depth perception and how well they can see at different distances. The pupil
test will test how their eyes respond to light. And an eye movement test
looks at your child’s peripheral vision.
3. A dilated eye exam
The dilated eye exam is the part most difficult part of the appointment for
many children and your child may complain that the drops sting a little bit.
However, this is an important component of the exam; when the pupils are
dilated, your doctor can examine both the retina and the optic nerve.
It takes some children time to get used to eye exams and to begin to feel
comfortable at their yearly appointments. You can help by talking to your child first
and letting them know what they can expect during the exam.
For more information about pediatric eye exams or to schedule an appointment
with one of our doctors, contact our Alabastter office.
