We often get asked by our patients from Westwood and Montrose, at what age should they bring their child in for an eye exam. The truth is, The American Optometric Association (AOA) recommends getting children an eye exam from the age of 6 months. Parents assume that if their child can see well in school, there is no need to bring them in for an annual eye exam with the eye doctor. However, this is often not the case.

Why does my child need a comprehensive eye exam?

The answer is that while your child may seem fine, they may not be. There are many items that we check at a comprehensive eye exam in addition to if your child can see well at a distance. Learning is 80% visual so it is very important to ensure that your child is seeing well. Here is the most important fact: 25% of kids who pass a vision screening have eye issues. Many children are misdiagnosed with ADD or ADHD when in reality, they just have vision issues! No parent wants to risk their child struggling in school.

What will the Eye Doctor look for at my child’s eye exam?

As mentioned, even if the school nurse is saying your child’s vision is fine, there are many more factors to check regarding the health of the eye.

• Near and farsight – see if your child has an issue seeing at a distance or up close.

• Focusing skills – can the eyes focus on items near and far

• Binocular Vision/Fusion – do the eyes work together or do they drift apart? Is there eye coordination? If not, they may have Binocular Vision Dysfunction

• Lazy eye – making sure one eye isn’t dragging when the other is moving

Getting a yearly comprehensive eye exam for your child is an important step to ensuring that your child’s vision is functioning properly. We can detect any early signs of issues and treat them before they get worse. Give us a call to book an eye exam for your child. We can be reached in Westwood at (310) 234-8900 and in Montrose at (818) 330-7555.