Being a first-time parent is difficult, even for royalty! As Megan Markle opens up about the struggles of being a first time mom with the spotlight on her, we wanted to touch on the topic of infant eye care.
Vision in infants is unknown. They cannot tell us things are blurry, or they are having headaches. They don’t know any other type of vision than what they are born seeing. As a result, poor vision in infants can affect them in many ways – in their behavior, learning, and development.
According to the American Optometric Association, infants should have their first comprehensive eye exam at the age of six months. This is typically done by their pediatrician and then a recommendation is made if the child needs another opinion from an eye care provider, yet 85 percent of America’s preschoolers don’t receive their first eye exam until age five. Studies also found that five to 10 percent of preschoolers and 25 percent of school-aged children have vision problems.
Just like we are always telling our adult patients, vision issues can exist even without symptoms. Typically, when symptoms arise, it is too late for vision correction. That is why annual exams are so imperative. With technology like what we carry in our offices, we are able to get a full map of the patient’s eye without dilation. This is giving us early detection of many vision issues that could arise. The same is true for children. Annual exams allow optometrists to catch eye issues that may not be seen – not because of a parent not looking for them but because they are not detectable without an optometrist’s tools.
Early detection can be key. For example, these parents noticed their daughter Piper was not meeting milestones. Without a physical reasoning, they took her in for vision. Turns out she couldn’t see. Click here to watch her heart-warming reaction as she is able to see her mom clearly for the first time!
Although there are children with vision issues that are not detected and those, like Piper, that are showing visual signs, there is no way of knowing until you get your child’s vision checked.
There are several issues children and infants may exhibit that would be cause for getting them into an optometrist, such as:
Whether your child is suffering from poor vision or not, sometimes the peace of mind of getting them checked by a specialist is worth the time. Don’t forget to add your children to your vision plan if you would like those annual exams covered by insurance.
More questions about vision? Reach out to us today!
