While some may associate changes to eyesight as a sign of aging, vision problems are very common amongst young children, even in a child that is only a few months of age.

Children who have trouble with their vision can worsen eyesight, lack of focus, and difficulty in school as they learn to read and write.

By monitoring your child’s eyesight and taking them to see a pediatric optometrist in Vancouver on a consistent basis, you help assess any potential problems within their eyes, prevent potential conditions, and help take steps to correct many associated conditions with the eyes.

When Should a Child’s First Eye Appointment Be?

It is recommended that you take your child to their first pediatric eye doctor around six to nine months. Following their initial appointment, a child should see a pediatric eye doctor approximately once a year until they are finished schooling. At this time, appointments can be reduced to every two years.

What Type of Eye Doctor Should My Child See?

Primarily, the first kind of eye doctor a child, should be taken to is an optometrist. An optometrist provides patients with initial and thorough eye examinations and helps diagnose and, in some cases, treat the more mild and common vision problems that can occur both among the young and old.

Optometrists can also provide things like eyewear and certain topical medications (like drops) and check for peripheral vision and pressure within the eyes.

Following their appointment with an optometrist, your child may be recommended to see other types of eye care specialists, such as an Orthoptist or Ophthalmologist.

An orthoptist helps to treat eye conditions such as lazy eyes, macular degeneration, eye alignment, and certain eye diseases.

An ophthalmologist, meanwhile, is a medical professional who is licensed to practice medicines and can treat all kinds of injuries and diseases to the eye and perform surgery on the eye.

Signs Your Child Needs Glasses

There are a few signs that your child may need glasses, even if they are too young to communicate properly. These signs can include the following:

Squinting: You may often see your child squinting, which can be a sign they are trying to re-focus their eyesight.

Head Tilting: Frequent tilting of the head can be a sign your child is attempting to adjust his angle for better vision or realign their eyes.

Eye Covering: A child that covers one eye, or holds one eye closed, can be a sign they are trying to focus out of their “good” eye more easily.

Close Range: A child with poor vision may hold themselves very close to the tv or bring a book or electronic device close to their face.

What to Expect During Child’s First Optometrist Appointment?

A pediatric eye exam consists of a thorough assessment for identifying diseases, as well as a refraction test to assess a child’s vision. Following the appointment and based upon the results of the assessments, the optometrist will then either refer them to another specialist or prescribe them the appropriate eyewear. A child may also receive drops which can dilate the pupils to help the optometrist better see within the eye, including the optical nerves, blood vessels, ad retina.