Value of Routine Pediatric Eye Exams

February 17, 2021

Children require routine assessments from the moment they are born. This assessment is done monthly during their early days to track their growth progress. As they grow older, these exams become advanced. Routine eye exams are important for children. A good vision is vital for the growth and development of children. Early eye exams for children help to detect vision problems in good time. Children’s vision changes rapidly because they are at a rapid growth age. Here are reasons routine eye exams for children are very important.

 

Vision Is Vital for Growth Milestones Tracking

Parents and caregivers are excited to track their child’s milestones and get discouraged if they do not seem to go the way they expect them to go. If a child has poor hand and eye coordination, this might be a poor vision problem. Children learn through watching and repeating. If they cannot see well, they may have trouble learning new things.

Poor Vision Can Affect School Work

Children need good vision for learning efficiently. If your child has trouble reading or seeing written material, they may have trouble catching up with their studies. Children are constantly growing. So, if an eye problem is not caught on time, it can deteriorate fast. Most parents notice vision problems when children start going to school. If they have trouble focusing on books or seeing the board, then a comprehensive eye exam is recommended.

 

Eye Exams Can Help to Detect Other Conditions

Specialists can detect other conditions affecting children by examining their eyes. Conditions such as anemia, hypertension, and some forms of cancer can be detected by examining the eyes. Most eye conditions that affect people progress slowly over time. Some conditions can be caught early and treated so that they do not threaten children’s vision when they grow older.

 

Children Are Spending Too Much Time on Screens

Specialists say that people who spend time outside can lower their probability of getting myopia. Nowadays, children spend more time indoors with screens than they do outside. Changes in lifestyles in society today are affecting how our bodies react to the environment. Reports revealed that cases of myopia are on the rise because people spend too much time on screens. Exposing children to screens from a tender age can trigger early-onset myopia.

 

Poor Eyesight Can Lead to Behavioral Issues

Some children have poor communication skills, and they do not know how to express themselves. Sometimes, they may be suffering in silence. If the poor vision affects their milestones and school performance, they might become aggressive or withdrawn. Conditions such as color blindness or partial blindness can cause children to fail basic learning tests. This causes frustration, or they even become bullying targets where their peers make fun of them.

 

Specific Eye Exams Are Crucial

Routine eye exams are important, but they may not be as comprehensive. Watch out for symptoms that may suggest that the child has trouble with the eyes. These symptoms include squinting, excessive blinking, constant rubbing, headaches, covering one eye, and trouble focusing on objects. If you have a family history of eye problems, make sure that you keep up with eye exams from a young age to old age.

To know more about routine pediatric exams, visit Eye Associates of New York at our offices in New York, New York. You can also call (212) 650-4888 to book an appointment today.