Are you worried about when to take your kid to their first eye exam? When is it too late or too early? After all, babies cannot read the eye chart, so when exactly should you be worried? Vision difficulties in children are widespread and perhaps more often than the patients realize.
You may wonder when is the best time to take your child for their first eye exam. Well, the answer isn't always so clear-cut. If your family has a history of vision problems or not, it's recommended that you take your child for their first exam around 6 months of age. This is because, at this age, children are beginning to develop the ability to see and process visual information.
Importance of Child’s Vision
Daily, there are a lot of tasks that require a good vision. For example, while learning in school, the child needs to look at the board, and it can be from afar or up close; likewise, reading and writing require a good vision.
So, as a parent, you have to be concerned about your child’s eyesight. According to specialists, approximately 80% of a child’s learning before 13 is through visuals. Therefore good vision is essential for their learning.
Why Should You Be Concerned for Your Child’s Eyesight Early
As we know, children are not as good at communication as adults; hence, it becomes the duty of the parents to understand their concerns. We listen to many stories when adults who use glasses explain how as a child, it was difficult for them to tell how they are seeing the world, isn’t it normally presented as a funny story?
When Is the Right Time?
Taking the advice of the expert, i.e. the American Optometric Association (AOA), they advises that children under the age of one should get a full eye exam by an ophthalmologist. If no eyesight treatment is required, the AOA advises an eye checkup every two years for children who are school-going.
What if Your Child Already Uses Glasses
And if your child already uses glasses, they should have their eyes inspected at least once a year. A task that requires proper time and care because your child’s future cannot be taken for granted.
Early Treatment
If you take your child to the eye doctor at the right time, many eye problems can be detected and treated early. Isn’t this what you want for your child? For example, many eye problems like strabismus or amblyopia can be treated at an early age using eye drops or contact/corrective lenses. Likewise, myopia, also known as nearsightedness, can also be treated with the simple use of eyeglasses.
With all this information provided, are you now ready to add an appointment for an eye exam for your child to your to-do list before your child goes back to school? Do not ignore any complaints from your child; as you know, prevention is better than cure.
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