If you’re a new parent—or simply new to Eye Center, Inc.—you may be wondering what to expect when bringing your child for an eye exam. At our practice, we make children’s eye care straightforward, comfortable, and thorough for patients ages five and up.
What Should Parents Bring?
No special preparation is needed! Just bring your child and any glasses or vision history, if you have it. We handle the rest and guide you through every step.
How Do Pediatric Eye Exams Work?
The process for children is similar to adults, but with some special touches:
- Kid-Friendly Testing: If your child can’t read a standard letter chart yet, we use tools like the HOTV chart—a fun matching game that’s just as accurate.
- Advanced Techniques: For uncooperative little ones, we use modern tools like retinoscopy, auto-refraction, and cycloplegic refraction to get an accurate prescription, even if they’re not answering questions.
Our modern technology ensures your child gets the right prescription and a comprehensive vision health check—no matter their age or reading level.
What Do We Screen For?
Our doctors check for:
- Eye alignment and teamwork
- Focus and tracking issues
- Signs of common conditions:
- Myopia (nearsightedness): Difficulty seeing the board at school
- Hyperopia (farsightedness): Trouble with up-close work
- Astigmatism: Blurry vision at all distances
We’ll also assess if your child’s vision is ready for school tasks like reading, seeing the board, and focusing comfortably for learning.
What If My Child Has a Vision Problem?
Myopia
We offer glasses and contact lenses for kids with myopia. We also provide modern myopia control strategies, including:
- Special soft contact lenses for myopia management
- Orthokeratology (Ortho-K): hard lenses worn overnight to reshape the eye
- Atropine eye drops for progressive cases
Astigmatism & Hyperopia
Both are common and treatable with glasses or contacts. Astigmatism simply means the eye’s shape “smears” vision a bit—easily fixed with the right prescription.
When Can Kids Start Wearing Contact Lenses?
Every child is different. We suggest that if your child is responsible with hygiene—washing hands before eating, brushing teeth nightly—they may be ready as early as age 9 or 10. By 13, most children are excellent candidates for contact lenses.
What Should Parents Watch For?
Let us know if you notice:
- Eye turning in or out
- Squinting, trouble reading, or difficulty focusing
- Avoidance of up-close work or reading
Early intervention can make a huge difference in vision, school performance, and confidence!
Schedule Your Child’s Exam Today
From matching games to advanced myopia control, Eye Center, Inc. is here to help your child see, learn, and thrive. Ready for a checkup? Book your child’s pediatric eye exam today!