August is Children’s Eye Health Safety Month
Many people make the mistake of not getting a comprehensive eye exam until they are an adult. Others, however, start to get their eyes checked as an infant. The American Optometric Association (AOA) encourages parents to bring their infant child in for a pediatric eye exam as early as six months of age. As August is Children’s Eye Health Safety Month, it is important to get in the habit of bringing your child in for an exam so we can ensure their vision develops as it should. By bringing your child to their eye doctor, you can learn how to best help your child maintain good vision and keep their eyes safe.
We know that you undoubtedly have a lot on your plate with a newborn, but planning and making an appointment for an exam is a smart way to ensure your baby has no issues with their vision. At First Eye Care DFW, we are committed to the health and well-being of every single patient – both young and old. We encourage you to bring your baby in for their first eye exam so we can continue to monitor how their vision develops with time. The more information we have, the better.
Why Does My Infant Need an Eye Exam?
You may be wondering why you need to bring your baby into the eye doctor so soon – they can’t recite the alphabet after all, right? For one, pediatric eye exams are an opportunity for our eye doctor to discuss your family history of eye diseases and overall vision health. Are there any genetic problems we should be aware of? Knowing what to expect for your baby’s future is the best way to prevent any issues from arising that may negatively affect your child’s future.
During this initial exam, we will also check the following:
- Signs of allergies
- The structure of your child’s eye
- How your child’s eyes respond to light
- How your child’s eyes respond to movement
- Can your baby follow the penlight with both eyes together, as well as each eye individually?
If you notice your child’s eyes do not move together, appear to ‘jump’ around, or if they’ve sustained an eye injury, please schedule a pediatric exam as soon as possible. Early detection is key, and the sooner we can evaluate your infant’s vision, the better.
When Does My Baby Need an Eye Exam?
The AOA recommends parents have their child’s eyes tested at six months, then again around the ages of three and five. After that, they should only need to visit the eye doctor every two years. However, if we have discovered any potential risks or other problems with the development of your child’s eyes, we may suggest bringing them in more often.
It can be difficult for parents to judge how good their child’s vision is, but having a trained optometrist evaluate your child’s vision will ensure any problems are detected right away.
What are the most common infant eye issues?
At First Eye Care DFW, our experienced team will screen for infections and structural problems with the eyes, including:
- Malformed eyelids
- Cataracts
- Glaucoma
- Other abnormalities
The bottom line? The sooner you bring your baby into First Eye Care DFW, the better. August is Children’s Eye Health Safety Month. One of the best ways to ensure your child’s eyes remain healthy and to monitor their vision is to regularly get them pediatric eye exams. To learn more about our pediatric eye exams or if you have any questions or concerns regarding infant eye exams, please do not hesitate to contact us.