Focus on Pediatric Eye Care

Support your child’s highest potential.

Healthy vision is one of the most important components of your child’s wellness.

Vision develops rapidly starting at birth and is tied to many developmental milestones, such as hand-eye coordination and reading. In the long term, your child’s vision will impact how they learn, play, and interact with the world.

While there may be some obvious signs of visual disorders, many vision problems can only be detected by a qualified eye doctor during a comprehensive eye exam.

Focus on Eyecare offers complete vision care and products for children ages 6 months and older. Schedule an appointment with us and give your child the gift of clear vision.

Is your child having trouble seeing?

It is not always easy to spot vision problems in kids.

Some symptoms are more obvious, like squinting or holding reading materials very close. But often the early signs are subtle and can even be misdiagnosed.

Your child may be experiencing a vision problem if he or she does any of the following:

• Avoids reading and close-up work like coloring or doing puzzles
• Seems to work slow or not understand the task
• Complains of fatigue or headaches
• Has a short attention span or seems distracted
• Covers one eye or tilts head when focusing on something
• Shows sensitivity to light
• Exhibits difficulty with coordination

Common eye disorders in children

Vision can be affected by many things, including the shape of the eyeball, how the eyes and brain work together, and by other diseases or medical conditions. The good news is that many eye disorders can be successfully identified and treated.

The most common eye disorders are caused by the shape and alignment of the eyes, including:

Strabismus is when the eyes do not align properly. This is often referred to as “crossed eyes” or “drifting eyes.” Strabismus can also be a cause of amblyopia.

Amblyopia is poor vision in one eye, and is sometimes referred to as “lazy eye.” It usually occurs before the age of eight. Infants born prematurely or with low birth weight are at greater risk.  It usually occurs in early childhood and its best treatment outcomes result from early detection and treatment.

Refractive errors cause blurry images due to the shape of the eyeball or lens. These common conditions are easily treated with glasses or contact lenses. There are three types of refractive errors:

• Myopia or nearsightedness is good close vision but poor distance vision. Myopia usually worsens with age, but there are ways to slow down the rate of change.
• Hyperopia or farsightedness is poor up-close vision. Distant objects can easily be seen. Higher amounts of hyperopia will blur distance vision as well and can lead to headaches and eyestrain.
• Astigmatism is imperfect vision at any distance.

Eye exam schedule for kids

Routine eye exams are a crucial part of your child’s well being and readiness for learning. Many parents do not know that school screenings are not the same as eye exams. Even with 20/20 vision, your child can still have problems that only an eye doctor can detect.

Newborns have their eyes checked before leaving the hospital. And leading medical organizations recommend comprehensive eye exams for health, vision development, and alignment at these ages:

• Between 6 and 12 months
• 3 years of age
• Every year starting at age 5, unless otherwise directed by your eye doctor.

Support your child’s highest potential — schedule an appointment at Focus on Eyecare today.