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Three generations of women, including an infant, looking at a digital tablet
Three generations of women, including an infant, looking at a digital tablet

Children's Eye Exams

From preschoolers to high schoolers, 25% of children are faced with vision problems. If left untreated, these vision problems can worsen and lead to more serious issues over time. One of the best ways to protect your child’s vision is having their eyes checked regularly.

Regular eye exams provide an opportunity to get ahead of common childhood eye conditions and their treatment.

Child receiving an eye exam with a phoropter
Child receiving an eye exam with a phoropter
Child receiving an eye exam with a phoropter

From preschoolers to high schoolers, 25% of children are faced with vision problems. If left untreated, these vision problems can worsen and lead to more serious issues over time. One of the best ways to protect your child’s vision is having their eyes checked regularly.

Regular eye exams provide an opportunity to get ahead of common childhood eye conditions and their treatment.

Here are some questions the eye doctor may ask during a child’s eye exam:

Did You Know?

A vision screening is different from an eye exam. A vision screening is a brief eye check that helps determine if a more detailed and dilated exam performed by an eye doctor is needed.

A vision screening is different from an eye exam. A vision screening is a brief eye check that helps determine if a more detailed and dilated exam performed by an eye doctor is needed.

Here’s the American Academy of Ophthalmology'slink-out icon recommended screening schedule:

NEWBORN

Eye doctor tests for:

  • A “red reflex” (like seeing red eyes in a flash photograph)
  • Blink and pupil response

6 MONTHS

Eye doctor conducts the same tests as the newborn screening, plus:

  • Visual eye inspection
  • Healthy alignment and movement

1 TO 3 YEARS OLD

Eye doctor uses photoscreening tests for:

3 TO 5 YEARS OLD

Eye doctor tests for:

5 YEARS AND OLDER

Eye doctor continues to check for visual acuity, eye alignment and, most commonly, nearsightedness (among other conditions).

Here’s the American Academy of Ophthalmology'slink-out icon recommended screening schedule:

NEWBORN

Eye doctor tests for:

  • A “red reflex” (like seeing red eyes in a flash photograph)
  • Blink and pupil response

6 MONTHS

Eye doctor conducts the same tests as the newborn screening, plus:

  • Visual eye inspection
  • Healthy alignment and movement

1 TO 3 YEARS OLD

Eye doctor uses photoscreening tests for:

3 TO 5 YEARS OLD

Eye doctor tests for:

5 YEARS AND OLDER

Eye doctor continues to check for visual acuity, eye alignment and, most commonly, nearsightedness (among other conditions).

Tip!

Always discuss any eye changes and eye health issues that run in your family during vision screenings and eye exams.

Always discuss any eye changes and eye health issues that run in your family during vision screenings and eye exams.

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