Eye health and good vision are crucial for the overall learning and development of your child. Their vision continues to develop until they are 8 or 9 years old. This also makes it necessary to get your child’s eyesight checked so you can catch issues early and get them treated on time.
The Ages at Which Children’s Eyes Need to Be Screened
Ideally, a child’s eyes need to be screened properly by their pediatrician for any problems at specific intervals:
- At birth
- At 6 months
- 3-4
- 5 years
- Each subsequent year during their well-check visit
But a free children’s vision test in Oklahoma is different from a comprehensive eye exam. An ophthalmologist or optometrist usually conducts the latter. It’s a good idea to speak with your kid’s primary care doctor to discuss when they think your child needs to have the comprehensive eye exam done.
In addition to vision screenings and eye tests for kids, parents also need to be on the lookout for any warning signs that indicate vision issues that can develop in between the exams and screenings.
Signs of Vision Problems In Children
Physical symptoms
You would be able to see some problems just by looking at your kid’s eyes. Contact your doctor to determine how urgently you need to take her to an ophthalmologist for a comprehensive eye exam if she is displaying any of these symptoms:
- Droopy eyelids
- Bulging eyes
- Eyes that shake/flutter
- Cloudy pupils (in babies)
- Misaligned eyes (one turned out/crossed)
- Chronic redness, tearing, or swelling
- Rubbing or squinting of eyes
Behavioral Changes
If your child is doing certain things differently than they used to, it could indicate they have vision problems. For example, if you find them sitting closer to the TV than they normally used to. She could easily catch a baseball without dropping it. He is having difficulty copying from a board, which he could do without any trouble earlier.
If your child is old enough, she may also be able to tell you if she is unable to see things clearly. These are the red flags you need to be on the lookout for and which indicate that your kid might need glasses. You can first get a free children’s vision test in Oklahoma done, and it will pick up vision problems. The professionals will refer for a more comprehensive eye exam if it is required.
Suspected Developmental Delays
In case you suspect that your child’s development isn’t as you expect it to be, you must speak with his pediatrician. They might recommend that you get an eye exam to rule out vision problems.
If you find that your kid is having difficulty learning letters/numbers, or recognizing her colors, discuss with her primary care doctor whether you need to get a comprehensive eye exam done.
Up to 25 percent of school-age children have some vision problems and may require glasses. For more information on free vision screening in Oklahoma call Vizavance. You can reach us at the Tulsa office by calling 918 496 3484 or at the OKC office by calling 405 848 7123.
