{"id":303,"date":"2020-03-11T17:34:35","date_gmt":"2020-03-11T17:34:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/wordpress\/?page_id=303"},"modified":"2022-04-21T06:18:32","modified_gmt":"2022-04-21T06:18:32","slug":"pediatric-eye-exams-2","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/childrens-vision\/guide-to-childrens-eye-exams\/pediatric-eye-exams-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Eye Exams for Children"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2><b>The importance of pediatric eye exams\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n<p>While it is common practice for pediatricians to conduct a brief vision screening at your child\u2019s annual physical, it is important to emphasize that these <a href=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/vision-for-school\/are-school-vision-screenings-effective\/\">screenings are not a substitute for a thorough examination performed by an eye doctor.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Eye doctors utilize specific clinical and diagnostic tools and assessments to determine your child\u2019s ocular health and visual abilities. Since many learning skills are dependent on the strength of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/vision-therapy\/the-17-key-visual-skills\/\">visual skills<\/a> such as binocular vision, accurate eye movements, the ability to see distant objects, etc., doctors recommend that children have their first eye exam even before reaching school age.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/practice-search\/\">Contact an eye doctor<\/a><\/strong> near you that are experienced in conducting eye exams for children.<\/p>\n<h2><b>Vision screenings vs. comprehensive eye exams<\/b><\/h2>\n<p>Many schools conduct vision screenings to identify any vision problems that may affect a child\u2019s ability to learn.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Even if your child has passed a school vision screening, it is still strongly recommended to schedule a comprehensive eye exam. Vision screenings do not check for all the vision problems that can affect children.<\/strong><\/p>\n<h2><b>When should my child have their first eye exam?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p>Eye doctors recommend that children have their first eye exam at six months of age to ensure that their <a href=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/childrens-vision\/guide-to-vision-development\/\">eyes are developing<\/a> normally.<\/p>\n<p>After this initial visit, doctors recommend that you bring your child for a second eye exam every year or at least by age 2 or 3, and then again before they start school.<\/p>\n<h2><b>What to expect: Your child&#8217;s first eye exam<\/b><\/h2>\n<p>When meeting with your child\u2019s eye doctor for the first time, be prepared to answer questions about your child\u2019s birth history (including any complications during pregnancy or delivery), birth weight, and whether they were born full-term.<\/p>\n<p>Your doctor will also ask questions regarding family history of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/childrens-vision\/guide-to-pediatric-eye-conditions\/a-guide-to-childrens-eye-diseases\/\">ocular disease<\/a>, and your child\u2019s medical history\u2014 including previous eye problems, treatments or surgeries, current medications and any allergies they may have.<\/p>\n<p>Be sure to tell your doctor about any delay in motor development, and if you have noticed:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Frequent eye rubbing or blinking<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Difficulty maintaining eye contact<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Poor tracking skills<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>It is also important to mention if your child has failed a vision screening conducted by their school or pediatrician.<\/p>\n<h2><b>Eye testing for infants (6 months to 2 years)<\/b><\/h2>\n<p>Babies by six months of age are tested for eye focusing skills, color vision and depth perception. Your eye doctor will typically use three different tests to determine whether your baby\u2019s eyes are developing normally.<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Pupil responses.<\/b> This test will measure your baby\u2019s pupil response (opening and closing) in the presence or absence of light.<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Fixate and follow.<\/b> This test will measure your baby\u2019s ability to fixate on and follow an object as it moves. The ability to fixate on an object usually develops within the first month of birth, while the ability to follow an object typically develops by three months of age.<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Preferential looking<\/b>. This test will measure your baby\u2019s vision, using special cards that are blank on one side and striped on the other, to attract the baby\u2019s gaze.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h2><b>Eye exams for preschool children (2 to 5 years)\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n<p>At this age, children are learning to color, draw, cut paper, stack blocks, build with Lego pieces, play with balls, and more!<\/p>\n<p>A comprehensive exam for preschool children usually includes a series of tests for:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/general-practice-optometry\/guide-to-eye-exams\/eye-exams\/what-is-a-visual-acuity-test\/\">Visual acuity<\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/vision-therapy-for-lazy-eye\/7-signs-your-child-might-have-a-lazy-eye\/\">Lazy eye<\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Stereopsis (3D vision)<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Eye tracking<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Convergence<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Color vision<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ocular health<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>All of these visual skills are vitally important for the healthy development of an infant and to prepare them for the school years ahead.<\/p>\n<p>Young children are constantly learning new skills that will prepare them for when they learn to read and write. Visual skills, such as, visual perceptual skills, eye-hand coordination, fine motor skills, etc., are also essential for learning and academic success.<\/p>\n<p><strong>If you notice that your child is showing any signs of developmental delay, or if your child has difficulty recognizing shapes, colors, numbers, or letters,\u00a0 inform your eye doctor\u2014 a developmental delay may signal a vision problem.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><b>LEA <\/b><b>symbols<\/b> are used to test visual acuity for young children who are unable to identify the letters on an eye chart. These symbols include an apple, house, square, and circle. Your child will be asked to identify these symbols, allowing your eye doctor to measure how well your child sees both near and distant.<\/p>\n<p><b>Random dot stereopsis <\/b>measures your child\u2019s 3D vision\u2014 this is an indication of how well your child\u2019s eyes work together. This test uses a chart with special patterns of dots and 3-D glasses.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Assessment of visual skills <\/strong>to\u00a0rule out the presence of:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/vision-therapy-for-lazy-eye\/amblyopia-lazy-eye\/\">Amblyopia<\/a>\u2014 <\/b>also known as lazy eye<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/a-guide-to-eye-turns\/strabismus-crossed-eyes\/\">Strabismus<\/a>\u2014 <\/b>also known as crossed-eyes<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/vision-therapy\/vision-therapy-for-children\/convergence-insufficiency-2\/convergence-insufficiency-faqs\/\"><b>Convergence insufficiency<\/b><\/a>\u2014 the inability to view near objects easily<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Focusing difficulties<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Poor depth perception<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Color vision<\/strong> is examined using pictures with specific colors to determine if your child can discriminate between colors\u2014 the most common assessment is called the Ishihara Test.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/general-practice-optometry\/guide-to-eye-exams\/eye-exams\/how-is-my-optical-prescription-measured\/\"><b>Retinoscopy<\/b><\/a> is a technique used to obtain an objective measurement of a refractive error. The doctor uses a retinoscope to shine light into the child&#8217;s eye, and then observes the reflection (reflex) off their retina. This test measures any <i>refractive error<\/i> such as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/childrens-vision\/what-is-myopia\/\">myopia<\/a>, that might be affecting your child\u2019s vision.<\/p>\n<p><b>Ocular examination<\/b> of the health of your child\u2019s eyes, including the cornea, iris, lens, retina and eyelids. This will also allow your eye doctor to rule out any ocular problems, such as:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/general-practice-optometry\/eye-conditions\/guide-to-cataracts\/cataract-faqs\/\">Infantile cataract<\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/general-practice-optometry\/eye-conditions\/glaucoma-guide\/glaucoma-faqs\/\">Glaucoma<\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/general-practice-optometry\/guide-to-eye-conditions\/eye-conditions\/ocular-oncology\/\">Tumors<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/practice-search\/\">Schedule an eye exam<\/a> with an eye doctor near you so they can detect and diagnose any vision problems your child may have.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>SEE RELATED: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/childrens-vision\/guide-to-childrens-eye-exams\/pediatric-eye-exams-2\/should-my-child-have-an-eye-exam\/\">Should My Child Have An Eye Exam?<\/a><\/p>\n\n\t<div class=\"practice-search-widget\">\n\t\t<h3>Find an eye doctor for children near you<\/h3>\n\t\t\n\t<form class=\"practice-search-form practice-search-form-widget\" action=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/practice-search\/results\/\" method=\"get\">\n\n\t\t<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"distance\" value=\"100\" class=\"practice-search-distance\">\n\t\t<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"page\" class=\"practice-search-page\">\n\t\t<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"address_latitude\"><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"address_longitude\">\n\n\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"address\" class=\"practice-search-address\" placeholder=\"City, Surburb or Address\" value=\"\">\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"distance\" value=\"100\" class=\"practice-search-distance\">\n\n\t\t\n\n\t\t<button type=\"submit\" class=\"practice-search-button\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg width=\"19\" height=\"19\" viewBox=\"0 0 19 19\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M10.6796 0.130005C9.15708 0.130059 7.66615 0.5646 6.38198 1.38258C5.09781 2.20057 4.07373 3.36803 3.43004 4.74783C2.78634 6.12763 2.54976 7.66246 2.74808 9.17205C2.9464 10.6816 3.57139 12.1033 4.54964 13.27L0.729639 17.08C0.6364 17.1732 0.562439 17.2839 0.511979 17.4058C0.461519 17.5276 0.435547 17.6581 0.435547 17.79C0.435547 17.9219 0.461519 18.0524 0.511979 18.1743C0.562439 18.2961 0.6364 18.4068 0.729639 18.5C0.917942 18.6883 1.17334 18.7941 1.43964 18.7941C1.5715 18.7941 1.70207 18.7681 1.82389 18.7177C1.94571 18.6672 2.0564 18.5932 2.14964 18.5L5.99964 14.62C7.35406 15.6038 8.98566 16.1324 10.6596 16.13C12.7814 16.13 14.8162 15.2871 16.3165 13.7869C17.8168 12.2866 18.6596 10.2517 18.6596 8.13C18.6596 6.00827 17.8168 3.97344 16.3165 2.47315C14.8162 0.97286 12.7814 0.130005 10.6596 0.130005H10.6796ZM10.6796 14.13C9.49295 14.13 8.33291 13.7781 7.34622 13.1188C6.35952 12.4595 5.59049 11.5225 5.13636 10.4261C4.68224 9.32975 4.56342 8.12335 4.79493 6.95946C5.02644 5.79558 5.59788 4.72648 6.437 3.88736C7.27611 3.04825 8.34521 2.4768 9.5091 2.24529C10.673 2.01378 11.8794 2.1326 12.9757 2.58673C14.0721 3.04085 15.0092 3.80989 15.6685 4.79658C16.3277 5.78328 16.6796 6.94332 16.6796 8.13C16.6796 9.7213 16.0475 11.2474 14.9223 12.3726C13.7971 13.4979 12.2709 14.13 10.6796 14.13Z\" fill=\"#fff\"\/><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/button>\n\n\t\t<button type=\"button\" class=\"practice-search-use-my-location\">\n\t\t\tSearch near me\n\t\t<\/button>\n\n\n\t<\/form>\n\n\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n<h2><b>Eye testing for older children (6 to 18 years)<\/b><\/h2>\n<p>A comprehensive exam for an older child is similar to that of a younger child, but includes additional tests of specific visual skills that are essential for reading, learning, and even sports performance.<\/p>\n<p>The following skills should be tested during an eye exam:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/general-practice-optometry\/guide-to-eye-exams\/eye-exams\/what-is-a-visual-acuity-test\/\"><b>Visual acuity: <\/b><\/a>the ability to see clearly at three distances:\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Near- <\/b>for reading a book<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Intermediate- <\/b>for computer use<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Far- <\/b>for seeing the board in class<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Eye Focusing:<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">the ability to maintain clear vision when switching focus from near to distant objects\u2014 a necessary skill for looking at the board and then looking at a notebook on a desk (e.g. taking notes).<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The ability to maintain clear vision for an extended period of time\u2014 when reading a book or completing homework assignments.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Eye tracking: <\/b>the ability to move the eyes to follow a line of text on a page, or follow a moving object like a ball thrown in the air.<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Eye teaming: <\/b>the ability to use both eyes together, in coordination when reading<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Eye-hand coordination: <\/b>the ability to use visual information to accurately direct the hands when hitting a ball or drawing a picture.<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Visual perception: <\/b>the ability to visually organize images on a page into letters, words, and ideas; and to comprehend and recall text.\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Recognition: <\/b>the ability to distinguish between letters like &#8220;b&#8221; and &#8220;d&#8221;.<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Comprehension: <\/b>the ability to visualize or imagine in our mind the scene of a story<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Retention: <\/b>the ability to remember and recall details<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Eye doctors test for the presence of these visual skills to rule out a vision problem that is <i>unrelated <\/i>to 20\/20 eyesight.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Many children have <a href=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/vision-therapy\/guide-vision-and-learning-difficulties\/vision-and-learning-difficulties-faqs\/\">difficulty in school<\/a>, either academically and behaviorally, because of undetected visual problems. <\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Children with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/vision-therapy\/guide-vision-and-learning-difficulties\/guide-to-visual-information-processing\/signs-of-visual-processing-information-dysfunction\/introduction-to-visual-processing\/\">reduced visual skills,<\/a> may also experience physical symptoms such as headaches, fatigue, and eye strain.<\/p>\n<p>These tests for visual skills are an integral part of a comprehensive eye exam.<\/p>\n<h2><b>What is myopia?\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n<p>Myopia (nearsightedness), is a common refractive error that affects <i>millions <\/i>of children and adults worldwide. Myopia causes an inability to see <em>distant<\/em> images clearly.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Myopia affects up to 42 percent of all school-aged children.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>It is often hereditary, and typically begins in childhood when the eyeballs are growing rapidly. Myopia develops when the eye grows too long (front to back), or the cornea and\/or lens is too curved for the length of the eyeball. A myopic eye focuses an image <i>at the front<\/i> of the retina, instead of directly <i>on <\/i>the retina, causing blurry distant vision and clear near vision.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/childrens-vision\/why-is-my-childs-myopia-worsening\/\">Myopia tends to worsen until the child reaches teenage years<\/a>, and then begins to plateau at around age 20, when the eyes stop growing.<\/p>\n<h3><b>Signs and symptoms of myopia:<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Squinting when reading the board or watching TV<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sitting at close proximity to the TV or computer screen<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sitting at the front of the classroom to clearly see the teacher and board<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Holding books close to the eyes<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Disinterest in playing sports that require distance vision<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Myopia is typically corrected with eyeglasses or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/eye-care-for-children\/can-kids-wear-contact-lenses\/\">contact lenses<\/a>. If your child has a refractive error, your eye doctor will prescribe an optical prescription noted with a minus sign, such as -1.00 or -2.50, for corrective eyeglasses.<\/p>\n<h2><b>What is hyperopia?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p>Hyperopia (far-sightedness) is a refractive error that causes an inability to see <i>near<\/i> objects or images clearly.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Hyperopia affects 13 percent of children between ages 6-17.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>A hyperopic eye focuses an image <i>behind the retina, <\/i>instead of <i>on the retina, <\/i>resulting in distorted or blurry vision.<\/p>\n<p>Hyperopia is an inherited vision condition that can develop in childhood, or later on in life. Although most cases of hyperopia develop because it runs in the family, complications in utero or early childhood such as illness or trauma to the eye, can increase the risk of hyperopia.<\/p>\n<p>Hyperopia can occur as a result of any of the following reasons:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The eyeball is shorter than normal<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The cornea is less curved than normal<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The lens is thinner than normal<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>However, being far-sighted is not just a matter of wearing glasses\u2014 hyperopia can also affect a child\u2019s visual development and their academic and sport performances.<\/p>\n<h3><b>Symptoms of hyperopia include:<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Near images or objects appear blurry, distance vision is clear<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Difficulty reading<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Headaches or fatigue after near vision activities (reading, writing, computer use)<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Eye strain<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Difficulty focusing on near objects<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Squinting<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Holding books at arm&#8217;s length<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Inward eye turn when trying to focus<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Hyperopia can usually be corrected using corrective eyeglasses or contact lenses and is noted on the eye doctor\u2019s optical prescription by a plus sign, such as +1.00 or +2.25.<\/p>\n<h2><b>Pupil dilation\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n<p>During the examination, your eye doctor may insert <a href=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/eye-care-for-children\/eye-drops-for-children\/\">drops <\/a>into the lower lid of your child\u2019s eye to enlarge their pupils\u2014 this is called <i>Mydriasis, <\/i>and is necessary for detection of ocular disease. Pupil dilation enables a clear view of the inner eye and all of its structures, such the lens, vitreous and retina.<\/p>\n<p>Your eye doctor might use drops for <i>cycloplegia<\/i>, to relax the focusing muscles in the eye. Cycloplegia is necessary for obtaining an accurate measure of a refractive error. With the use of special lenses, your eye doctor can achieve a precise calculation of the optical prescription that is most appropriate for your child.<\/p>\n<h3><b>Do dilating drops hurt?<\/b><\/h3>\n<p>Your eye doctor will gently place one or two eye drops into your child\u2019s lower eyelid. Following insertion, your child will feel mild stinging or burning. Don\u2019t be alarmed\u2014 this sensation only lasts a few seconds!<\/p>\n<p>The eye drops will cause blurry near vision and light sensitivity for as long as they are effective. The dilating drops take approximately 20 \u2013 40 minutes to work, and the effects gradually decrease over the course of a few hours. It is recommended to bring sunglasses to your appointment to ease any discomfort after the exam.<\/p>\n<p>It is rare to have an allergic reaction to the dilating eye drops, but it is important to be aware of the symptoms of an allergic reaction (dry mouth, flush face, rapid pulse, fever).<\/p>\n<h2><b>Can my child go to daycare or school after their eye exam?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p>Once the eye exam is complete, your doctor will discuss your child\u2019s ocular health and vision abilities with you. After your child\u2019s eye exam, regular daily tasks at school are permitted\u2014 though blurred near vision and sensitivity to light can be uncomfortable.<\/p>\n<p>If your child does not feel ready to go to school as a result of the dilating drops, your doctor can write an explanatory note for the teacher.<\/p>\n<h2><b>How often should my child have an eye exam?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p>It is important for an eye doctor to monitor their ocular health and development of the visual function. If your child does not need any vision correction, you can follow this schedule:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Between 6-12 months<\/li>\n<li>Between 2-3 years<\/li>\n<li>Between 4-5 years<\/li>\n<li>Annually, from age 6 and above<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>If your child presents with a refractive error or reduced visual skills, your eye doctor may recommend a more frequent eye exam to determine if there have been any vision changes since the last visit.<\/p>\n<p><strong>LEARN MORE: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/childrens-vision\/guide-to-childrens-eye-exams\/\">Guide to Children&#8217;s Eye Exams<\/a><\/p>\n<p><em>Regular eye exams are important because most of the time, children don\u2019t even realize that their vision has changed and they may be struggling with a vision problem. <\/em><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/practice-search\/\"><strong>Schedule an eye exam<\/strong><\/a> to help to ensure that your child has clear and comfortable vision.<a href=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/practice-search\/\"><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Eye doctors utilize specific clinical and diagnostic tools and assessments to determine your child\u2019s eye health and visual abilities. Since many learning skills are dependent on the strength of visual skills such as binocular vision, accurate eye movements, the ability to see distant objects, etc., doctors recommend that children have their first eye exam at age 6 months.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":1262,"parent":12318,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"template-article.php","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[85,95,112,168,147,230,102,90,103,145,83],"class_list":["post-303","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-children","tag-childrens-vision","tag-dyslexia","tag-eye-doctor","tag-eye-exam","tag-eyeglasses","tag-learning","tag-myopia","tag-reading","tag-screening","tag-vision-therapy"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v23.9 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Eye Exams for Children - Optometrists.org<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/childrens-vision\/guide-to-childrens-eye-exams\/pediatric-eye-exams-2\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Eye Exams for Children - Optometrists.org\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Eye doctors utilize specific clinical and diagnostic tools and assessments to determine your child\u2019s eye health and visual abilities. 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