Pediatric Eye Exam

Like adults, children can experience a wide range of eye health issues and vision problems. It is important to take them to a children’s eye doctor to catch problems early. Our eye care centers offer children’s eye exams in Omaha and Council Bluffs.

Signs Your Child Should See a Children’s Optometrist

Because children may not be able to tell you about an issue they are experiencing, it is important to take them to see a kid’s optometrist regularly. If you suspect that your child may have a vision problem, you should get their eyes checked immediately.

Some early signs of vision problems or eye irregularities you should look for in your child include:

  • Frequent squinting
  • Getting too close to what they are looking at
  • Head tilting or turning
  • Poor hand-eye coordination
  • Low tolerance for up-close activities
  • Often covering one eye
  • Frequent eye rubbing
  • Regular headaches from eye strain
  • Abnormal movement of the eyes

If your child is exhibiting any of these behaviors, you should take them to see a pediatric eye doctor. They may be struggling with anything from common vision problems like astigmatism to other eye health issues like abnormal eye alignment. Only your doctor can tell you what the issue is and how to address it after a pediatric eye examination. Without proper care, eye problems could impact your child’s school performance, attitude, and more.

Our Comprehensive Pediatric Eye Exams

The first step to getting your child care is taking them to a kid’s optometrist for a full exam. A comprehensive pediatric eye exam is different from a vision test at your child’s school or a checkup with your child’s pediatrician. While these vision screenings may be able to detect some problems, a comprehensive children’s eye exam is used to develop a diagnosis as well as a course of action. Also, these tests often neglect to look at your child’s overall eye health. Your school or pediatrician may miss an irregularity with the structure of the eyes or their function.

While a kid’s eye exam has the same end goal as an adult’s eye examination, the process can be quite different. Because children may struggle to communicate their problems or not have the same understanding of what is being asked of them as adults do, the tests are often modified. The methods our doctors use will likely depend on your child’s age and comprehension. Regardless of the exact technique, our children’s eye examinations in Omaha and Council Bluff will look at eye health, vision, and their risk of developing eye problems later in life.

If your doctor discovers an irregularity or potential issue, they will work with you to create a proper treatment plan. In some cases, preventative eye disease care can drastically slow the progression and decrease damage. In other situations, early detection may even allow for measures that could drastically help correct the problem if your child is at a young developmental age.

At What Age Should I Start?

Many parents wait to see a kid’s optometrist until they notice their child has a vision problem or another eye health abnormality. Ideally, children should have their eyes checked as young as six months, and like adults, routine exams should follow. Children diagnosed with vision problems or other irregularities may need to get their eyes checked more frequently.

Regular children’s eye exams can provide early detection of vision problems as well as eye health issues. The earlier a problem is detected, the sooner your doctor can devise a treatment. Do not wait to take your child to get their eyes checked. We offer children’s eye exams in Omaha and Council Bluffs. Call us today to schedule your child’s eye exam.