{"id":20180,"date":"2021-12-12T15:23:59","date_gmt":"2021-12-12T15:23:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/?page_id=20180"},"modified":"2021-12-12T15:32:55","modified_gmt":"2021-12-12T15:32:55","slug":"why-does-my-child-need-a-cycloplegic-refraction","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/childrens-vision\/guide-to-childrens-eye-exams\/why-does-my-child-need-a-cycloplegic-refraction\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Does My Child Need a Cycloplegic Refraction?"},"content":{"rendered":"

What is a cycloplegic refraction and why is it important?<\/b><\/h2>\n

Many eye doctors recommend a cycloplegic refraction to enable early detection of potential vision problems and an accurate optical lens prescription.<\/p>\n

The standard refraction test<\/h2>\n

When your child comes in for an eye exam, their eye doctor will perform a series of tests, collectively known as ‘refraction’, to determine if they need glasses.<\/p>\n

These eye tests include retinoscopy, auto-refraction and standard refraction.<\/p>\n

In the standard refraction test, the eye doctor will use a device called a phoropter or a trial frame, and ask the child to look at an eye chart as the doctor cycles through lenses of varying strengths. This helps the eye doctor to measure the exact extent of your child\u2019s refractive error.<\/p>\n

Unfortunately, during a standard refraction, children will sometimes try too hard to \u2018get the right answers\u2019 on their vision test, causing them to subconsciously over-focus.<\/b><\/p>\n

Many children with uncorrected high hyperopia (farsightedness)<\/a> have the uncanny ability to increase the focusing of their eyes. This accommodative ability can make it difficult for an eye doctor to evaluate the extent of the child\u2019s refractive error\u00a0and can cause an inaccurate diagnosis.<\/p>\n

So how can eye doctors get around this over-focusing to get a more accurate picture of the extent of a child\u2019s hyperopia?<\/i><\/p>\n

The answer – a cycloplegic refraction.\u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n

Without a cycloplegic refraction, these skewed results may cause your eye doctor to prescribe glasses or contact lenses that do not provide your child with their best vision.<\/strong><\/p>\n

In severe cases, inaccurate test results can allow more serious eye problems, such as amblyopia<\/a>, to develop.<\/p>\n

SEE RELATED: <\/b>Eye Exams for Children<\/a><\/p>\n

To find out more information about why a cycloplegic refraction may be important for your child, contact your local eye doctor today<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\t

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Find an eye doctor for children near you<\/h3>\n\t\t\n\t
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