For Children

A child’s visual system develops rapidly in the early years and plays a critical role in reaching developmental milestones. Regular eye exams from 6 months to school age are essential to ensure proper visual development, prevent vision problems, and support academic and social success.

• Birth-6 weeks: Briefly holds gaze on lights/objects; eyes and head move together.

• 8-24 weeks: Tracks objects/people with less head movement; notices distant objects.

• 12-18 months: Uses both hands for tasks, inspects objects up close, and identifies pictures in books.

• 4-5 years: Colors within lines, copies letters, and tells stories about observed places.

• 6-12 years: Reads and writes at grade level, participates in sports, and learns to ride a bike.

The American Optometric Association recommends comprehensive exams at 6 months, 3 years, and annually after starting school. Early detection of issues like nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, or amblyopia (lazy eye) can prevent long-term challenges.

1. Visual Acuity: Clarity at near and far distances.

2. Eye Teaming: Coordination of both eyes to avoid double vision or misalignment (strabismus).

3. Eye Tracking: Ability to smoothly follow objects and shift focus between targets.

4. Depth Perception: Judging spatial relationships, critical for sports and coordination.

5. Focusing (Accommodation): Maintaining clear vision at different distances.

• Nearsightedness/Farsightedness: Difficulty seeing near or far objects.

• Amblyopia (Lazy Eye): Reduced vision in one eye, often due to uncorrected refractive differences.

• Convergence Insufficiency: Challenges with eye-teaming during near tasks.

• Oculomotor Dysfunction: Poor eye-tracking skills, leading to difficulty reading or playing sports.

• Performance Lenses: Reduce strain for near work and optimize visual performance.

• Prism Lenses: Relieve stress by aligning light comfortably for the eyes.

• Vision Therapy: Customized programs to enhance visual skills like eye-teaming and tracking.

• Binasal Occlusion: Supports binocular vision development without full patching.

Vision screenings often test only distance eyesight, overlooking critical skills needed for reading and learning, such as focusing, eye-teaming, and tracking. A child may pass a standard vision test but struggle academically due to undiagnosed visual deficits.

Early intervention ensures your child’s visual system develops optimally, supporting success in school and life. Our in-depth developmental evaluations assess all 17 visual skills needed for academic achievement. Call us today to schedule your child’s appointment and provide the foundation for their best possible future.