Properly developed vision is vital to a child’s growth and development. Knowing when you should have your child’s vision checked and what to do if there is an issue is a key step in their vision care. Use the following guidelines to help understand and care for your children’s eyes.
INFANT VISION
During the first four months of life, infants will follow moving objects with their eyes and attempt to reach for things.
Between four and eight months, a baby should begin to turn from side to side, as well as use their arms and legs. At this time, eye movements and eye-body coordination skills begin to develop, and both eyes should focus more.
At 8 to 12 months old, a baby should begin to use both eyes together and be able to judge distances.
A baby’s eyes should be checked at birth and during well-baby doctor visits throughout their first year. All children should also undergo a complete eye exam at around 6 months old.
PRESCHOOL-AGE VISION
Between ages 3 and 6, children continue the process of fine-tuning their vision skills. Preschool children develop visually guided eye, hand and body coordination; general motor skills; and the necessary visual motor skills to learn how to read and write. If no previous vision problem has been detected, your child should have a thorough eye exam by age 3 to ensure vision is developing properly and to detect any developing eye diseases. If the child remains healthy, their next eye exam should be at age 5.
SCHOOL-AGE VISION
Astigmatism, nearsightedness and farsightedness are the main vision concerns for school-age children. To detect and treat these problems, they should have their eyes checked around age 6 and every two years thereafter if no vision problems exist.
However, if a child requires glasses or contact lenses for refractive errors, they should receive a vision exam every year. The basic vision skills a child needs by school age include:
- Near and distance vision
- Eye movement skills
- Focusing skills
- Peripheral vision
- Hand-eye coordination
Parents should take an active role in vision care by bringing children in for a complete eye exam and should not rely solely on vision screenings done by a school nurse or pediatrician.
SPOTTING EYE PROBLEMS
Signs that a child may have vision problems include:
- Constant eye rubbing
- Extreme light sensitivity
- Poor focusing
- Poor visual tracking (following an object)
- Abnormal eye alignment or movement after 6 months of age
- Chronic eye redness or tearing
- A white pupil instead of black
In school-age children, watch for other signs such as:
- Inability to see objects at a distance
- Inability to read the blackboard
- Squinting
- Difficulty reading
- Sitting too close to the TV
Poor vision can lead to poor grades, behavioral issues, and even developmental delays. Following these basic guidelines can help prevent or improve many challenges your child may face. While most general medical providers will check your children’s eye health, only a qualified vision expert can assess the need for visual aids like glasses or contact lenses. Contact the Care Coordinator team if you have questions about coverage or if you need assistance locating a provider.
Source: www.kidshealth.org
