Home / Health & Wellness / Children's Health What all parents should know about their kid’s eye health Parents tend to neglect to schedule eye exams until their child complains of vision issues, but the reality is many children might not know what seeing clearly looks like. By Dr. Mary Anne Murphy, O.D. October 30, 2018 Rectangle Parents tend to neglect to schedule eye exams until their child complains of vision issues , but the reality is many children might not know what seeing clearly looks like. By delaying eye exams and potential treatments, these kids are already behind when they start school, and relying only on school vision screenings alone widens that gap. A recent study by VSP Vision Care , the largest not-for-profit vision benefits provider in the U.S., found that half of the people in the U.S. neglect their eyes despite 84% rating vision as their most important sense. Here’s what mamas should know about their child’s vision. When should kids visit the eye doctor? Children should have their first eye exam with an eye doctor at 6 months old to get a sense of their vision needs. After this first exam, parents should schedule follow-up eye exams when their child is 3 years old and before they enter school at 5 years old, unless their eye doctor advises otherwise. Once in school, an eye exam should be a part of your child’s annual routine. And just like with adults, a comprehensive eye exam is important because it can detect more than just whether your child needs glasses , such as diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, thyroid diseases and certain types of cancers What parents should keep an eye out for At any age, parents should keep in mind these red flags that their child’s vision may be changing or worsening: Frequent squinting or eye rubbing Moving closer to things (like the TV or computer screen) to see it clearly Closing one eye to read or holding a book unusually close Reporting recurring blurry vision Fidgetiness or inattentiveness, which may be a result of a child having issues seeing the board clearly These changes can occur over time or suddenly. Think about how quickly a child’s shoe size changes—it can stay the same for a year then change two sizes in three months! Children’s bodies are growing and changing, and their eyes can change just as frequently. What to ask the eye doctor Once at your child’s eye appointment, here are a few questions to bring up: If my child requires corrective eyewear, what other options do we have, now or in the future, besides glasses? Is there anything I can do to prevent an even greater loss of vision? What are the effects of my child using technology? Should I limit use? Is one device worst or better than others? I’m worried my child may be pretending to a have vision problem or that his/her responses to your questions may not be reliable because glasses are so trendy right now. How can you tell if my child really has an issue that I need to be concerned about? How important is it to wear sunglasses from an early age? So, if it’s been a while since your child has had an eye exam, or you haven’t had a chance to schedule one yet, schedule an appointment for the entire family soon. You might also like: 5 things I wish I had known about children’s vision correction 6 tips for helping your child to adjust to their new glasses Babies in glasses are irresistible—and a professor of ‘cute studies’ explains why Related articles Baby Health What to know about congenital cataracts April 29, 2023 Baby Health When should you bring your child to the eye doctor? February 28, 2019 News Why 35 million people are obsessed with this dad and daughter dance party to ‘Despacito’ January 23, 2025 News How a 9-year-old boy’s quick thinking saved his mom’s life November 27, 2024 Children's Health If you’re being told to ‘watch and wait’ on your child’s health issues, here’s what you can do August 19, 2024