As someone that has had glasses since sixth grade, contacts since high school, and lasik later on, visiting the eye doctor was part of my regular life growing up. But when should children start going to the eye doctor?
According to the American Optometric Association children should receive their first eye exam sometime between 6-12 months old. During this comprehensive eye exam, your optometrist will test for:
- Excessive or unequal amounts of nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism
- Eye movement ability
- Eye health problems
Just like when doing your child’s regular well-child checks, it is rare to find anything wrong. However, early and regular checkups are important to catch concerns early and get them treated.
Because optometrists understand the importance of the first eye appointment, InfantSEE is a public health program set up to provide your child’s first visit at no cost. To locate a doctor in your area, visit their website: www.infantsee.org.
As children grow and develop, so do their eyes. American Optometric Association breaks down the changes by age and what you can do to help with good eye development here:
Infant Vision: Birth to 24 Months of Age
Preschool Vision: 3 to 5 Years of Age
School-aged Vision: 6 to 18 Years of Age
Haven’t taken your children to get their eyes checked yet? It’s never too late. schedule an appointment today!
Here is a video of one families story about getting their babies eyes checked and the difference it made for her development:
