When do Children need an eye exam?

Children should have eye exams at various stages of their development to ensure healthy vision and early detection of any potential problems. Early and regular eye exams are crucial for ensuring that children’s vision is developing correctly and that any potential problems can be treated early.

Here’s a typical timeline for eye exams in children:

• 6 months to 1 year: Eye exams during this period focus on checking for proper visual development, eye alignment, and conditions like crossed eyes (strabismus) or amblyopia (lazy eye).
• 3 years old: Children should have a comprehensive eye exam by age 3. This is to check for refractive errors (like nearsightedness or farsightedness), as well as for eye coordination and health.
• Before starting school (around 5-6 years old): A full eye exam before school ensures that a child can see clearly enough to learn, read, and participate in activities. Some schools require vision screenings at this age, but these are not as thorough as a full eye exam by an eye doctor.