Newborns do not have clear vision, but your baby's eyes will adjust, reaching her best vision over a few weeks or months. Although infants cannot read letters on an eye chart or communicate how well or how poorly they see, young children still require periodic eye examinations to determine vision problems. These examinations may also identify early signs of eye conditions. Knowing when to take your child to an eye doctor may help detect early signs of a problem.
Infants
Shortly after birth your baby's pediatrician will examine his eyes. The doctor cannot detect vision problems at this early stage, but she examines the eyes for problems such as a malformation.
Around 6 months of age you can take your child to an eye doctor. The doctor can use a special instrument called a retinascope that will help determine if your child needs an eyeglass prescription. The eye doctor will also check for normal eye movement and how your baby's pupils react to light.
Older Children
If your child does not have an eye condition or require glasses, the next eye exam should occur between ages 3 and 5. Ideally this visit will occur before your child begins school, and this may help detect a vision problem that could inhibit learning.
After this visit, your child's eye doctor will typically recommend a visit once a year or every two years, depending on your child's vision and eye health. You will typically follow the one- or two-year schedule until adulthood, and at this point, as long as your child has stable vision and no other eye or health conditions, your eye doctor may recommend two or three years between visits.
Unscheduled Exams
Your eye doctor may schedule routine eye examinations, but in some cases you may need to schedule an eye appointment sooner. If you notice that your child's eyes do not align or look in the same direction, contact your eye doctor. As well, if you notice your child squinting to read or watch television, this could indicate a vision problem.
Eyelid swelling, eye redness, discomfort or itching may also require a visit to the eye doctor. These and any other unusual symptoms could indicate an infection or condition that requires medication to treat the condition or relieve symptoms.
Considerations
Keep all scheduled eye appointments for your child since early detection of an eye condition or vision problem could prevent complications or worsening of vision. Contact your eye doctor immediately if you notice changes that could indicate an eye problem or if your child complains of sudden vision loss.
