Monitoring Eye Problems in Children

Eye Health As Your Child Ages

• Newborns should have their general eye health examined by a pediatrician or family physician while at the hospital.
• High-risk newborns (those with a family history of eye problems or premature) should be examined by an eye doctor as soon as possible, often in the hospital.
• Infants should have a comprehensive or “well baby” visit with a pediatric optometrist or ophthalmologist between 6 months to 1 year of age or immediately if any specific problems are noted. Annual examinations are recommended.
• Children should have annual eye examinations by an eye doctor. Pediatricians and school screenings will detect large vision problems but not all health conditions, binocular vision problems, or trouble focusing the eyes.
• A number of eye problems can appear around age 3, such as eye turns or lazy eye. These need to be treated as soon as possible to avoid vision loss.
• School-aged children need annual eye examinations by an eye doctor to avoid vision-related learning difficulties which may not be detected by a regular screening.
• Myopia or nearsightedness can be mitigated, but the best results are obtained when the eyes just begin to change. This is often before children will fail a screening at the pediatrician or school.