Pediatric Eye Exams

Healthy vision plays an important role in how children learn, play and experience the world around them. Eyes on Butterfield provides comprehensive pediatric eye exams at our Oakbrook Terrace optometry practice, conveniently located for families in Oak Brook, Lombard, Elmhurst and surrounding western suburbs.

Good vision is essential to a child’s learning, confidence and everyday life. School requires constant visual effort, from reading and writing to computers, smartboards and classroom activities. Sports and play also depend on strong vision and eye coordination.

When a child is struggling to see clearly, they may become tired, lose concentration, avoid certain activities or have difficulty keeping up in school. Regular pediatric eye exams can help identify vision problems early, before they begin to interfere with learning or quality of life.

When Should Your Child Have a Pediatric Eye Exam?

Children’s vision changes as their eyes grow and develop, so eye exams are important at different stages of childhood.

Infants

An initial eye and vision evaluation should take place during infancy. For newborns, the eyes may be checked with a red reflex test, which helps identify whether the eyes appear to be developing normally. Babies who were born prematurely, have certain medical risk factors, show signs of an eye abnormality, or have a family history of serious childhood vision problems may need a more comprehensive examination.

A second eye health and vision evaluation is typically recommended between 6 and 12 months of age. At this stage, the optometrist may evaluate pupil responses, how well the baby can fixate on and follow an object, and other age-appropriate measures of visual development.

Preschoolers

Between ages 3 and 5, a child’s visual acuity, eye alignment and focusing ability should be evaluated. This can help identify concerns such as strabismus, commonly called crossed or misaligned eyes, amblyopia or “lazy eye,” and refractive errors including myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism.

When vision problems are identified early, treatment can begin during an important period of visual development.

School-age children

Before entering school and throughout the school years, children should continue to have their vision and eye health evaluated regularly. At this age, nearsightedness, or myopia, becomes increasingly common and may progress as a child grows.

School places significant demands on a child’s vision. Reading, writing, computer use, smartboards, sports and other activities all rely on clear, comfortable vision. Regular pediatric eye exams help identify changes that might otherwise go unnoticed.

Signs Your Child May Need an Eye Exam

Children do not always recognize or explain that they are having trouble seeing. Some signs that may indicate a vision problem include:

• Squinting
• Holding books, tablets or other materials very close
• Complaining that distant objects look blurry
• Frequent eye rubbing
• Headaches or eye strain
• Losing their place while reading
• Avoiding reading or other close-up activities
• Having difficulty concentrating during visually demanding tasks
• Turning or tilting the head to see more clearly
• Difficulty seeing the board or smartboard at school

If you notice changes in your child’s vision or visual habits, a comprehensive pediatric eye exam can help determine whether a vision problem may be contributing.

What Happens During a Pediatric Eye Exam

A pediatric eye exam is tailored to your child’s age and stage of development.

Depending on your child’s needs, the exam may evaluate visual acuity, prescription needs, eye alignment, focusing ability, eye coordination and overall eye health. Parents also have an opportunity to discuss any concerns about their child’s vision, school performance, reading habits or visual behavior.

The goal is to understand how well their visual system is functioning and identify concerns that may benefit from treatment or monitoring.

Nearsightedness and Myopia in Children