A child’s eyesight develops as they age. The first few years of a child’s life, especially from their toddler to school stages, are crucial to this development. As a parent, monitoring your child’s eyesight as they grow up is critical to their well-being.
Your child’s pediatrician and eye doctor can help you maintain your child’s visual health, and it is your responsibility to know when to visit an eye care center near you. Read on to learn more.
Before They Enter School
Your child’s pediatrician and eye doctor can monitor your child’s eye health as they grow. They can also conduct an eye exam to check for concerns like misalignment, cross-eye, and lazy eye.
An eye exam before they start schooling will help ensure your child is equipped to begin their education. You’ll know if they need prescription glasses or if they have concerns regarding distance. Your child’s eye doctor will also let you know about special care instructions for your child.
If They’re Sensitive To Light
If your child exhibits photophobia or sensitivity to light, you may want to bring them in for an eye exam. This condition causes headaches, eye strains, and pain, which may prevent them from enjoying their daily life. An eye exam may help reveal the cause behind it and aid your child’s doctor in creating a treatment plan to address your child’s sensitivity to light.
When They Appear To Have Issues With Clear Vision
Bringing your child to a clinic for an eye exam will help you determine if they have any issues seeing clearly. Four visual conditions may be responsible for this:
- Myopia or nearsightedness — your child clearly sees objects that are near, while far objects are blurry.
- Hyperopia or farsightedness — your child clearly sees the objects that are far, while near objects are blurry.
- Astigmatism — a condition common among infants, which causes your child to focus on nearby articles but not on distant items.
- Presbyopia — a condition common among adults, which causes the loss of the ability to focus on something near over time.
When They Struggle With Coordination
Kids who appear clumsy or inattentive may be struggling with hand-eye coordination. The condition is often caused by a deficit in visual-motor coordination, which is how one connects visual information with their body movements. An eye exam can help assess if your child struggles with coordination and help their optometrist recommend the appropriate treatment.
When They Keep Rubbing Their Eyes
Eye rubbing may be a sign that your child is experiencing pain or discomfort. Rubbing the eye can be one way for them to try and relieve the uncomfortable sensation. This feeling may be caused by an underlying visual problem, like allergic conjunctivitis. This is an inflammatory condition that affects the conjunctiva — the connective tissue covering your eyeball’s surface.
An eye exam may help determine the cause behind your child’s eye rubbing. Their optometrist can recommend a treatment plan to address the condition. A doctor’s instructions and prescriptions can help your child avoid further damage. Since excessive rubbing may irritate the delicate structures of your child’s eyes, it needs to be prevented immediately.
Best Eye Doctor In Washington, MO
Your child’s visual health during their early years is indicative of what their eyesight may look like in the future. With that said, bringing your child early on to an eye doctor is critical, especially when they show sensitivity and distance issues. Other factors to consider include coordination struggles and constant eye rubbing.
If you’re looking for the best eye doctor in Washington, MO, look no further than Advanced Sight Center. Our team of highly trained board-certified ophthalmologists and optometrists can assure comprehensive care for your child.
If you want to know more about our services and providers, you may call our friendly staff at (636) 239-1650. Schedule a consultation with us through our secure online appointment request form.
We look forward to serving you!
