IMPORTANCE OF PEDIATRIC EYE EXAMS
One of the most crucial senses that healthcare professionals prioritize in children is eyesight. The child’s ability to see is a basic sense that pediatricians screen immediately from birth. This is when your pediatric optometrist takes the lead. If you want your child to get started on regular pediatric eye exams, here are the points that make these eye exams important.
Reinforce Screenings
A survey in the United States says that only 50 percent of parents take their children to annual eye exams. Most parents believe that the vision screenings at school and at their pediatrician’s clinic are enough. Your child could earn a passing score in the screening, but this doesn’t mean that there is no visual disorder developing. Eye experts recommend a separate schedule for pediatric eye exams with a pediatric optometrist to identify the true visual disorder in your child.
Identify Eye Issues Immediately
Kids usually see everything around them as normal. This means that when their vision starts to blur, they just think that it’s the way things look all the time. Children may squint when they try to focus on a word or a picture. Pediatric optometrist says that children do not know the difference between the way they see and normal vision. That is why regular pediatric exams should be on your child’s checkup calendar.
Address Red Flags
Because of your busy lifestyle, it’s difficult to keep track of the changes occurring in your child. It’s not until your child’s teacher talks to you about your child’s short attention span and restlessness that you know something is wrong. You may not even spot other red flags such as rubbing of the eyes or moving closer toward something to see it better. With the help of regular pediatric eye exams, your pediatric optometrist can spot the problem and target it properly.
Help Children Adapt To Vision Changes
Eye experts say that children tend to change quickly from foot size to height. They also tend to have abrupt changes in the way they see. The vision screening results last year may change long before the next screening happens. With pediatric eye exams, your child can transcend from normal vision to assisted vision smoothly.
Provide A More Comprehensive Set Of Eye Exams
Your child will experience an extensive collection of eye exams including tests for:
Distance vision.
Near vision.
Depth perception.
Binocular vision.
Dilated physical eye examination.
Eye muscle alignment.
Astigmatism.
Your child’s pediatric optometrist can use these tests to diagnose amblyopia or strabismus. Once there is proper diagnosis, your pediatric optometrist can correct the problem with therapy, prescription eyewear, or surgery.
A study by Honavar in the Indian Journal of Ophthalmology states that about 50 percent of the causes of visual impediment and blindness in children is treatable and preventable. That is why it’s critical for children to have timely pediatric eye exams. Here at Longview Eye Associates, we are always keen on making your child’s pediatric eye exams safe, comfortable, and fun. Please call us at 903-417-0070 if you want to schedule an appointment for your child or ask more questions about our pediatric eye exams. You are also welcome to visit our clinic in Longview, Texas, for a walk-in consultation.