Visit Child Optometrist Care – Eye See Optique

Children optometrists are university-trained health professionals whose main job is assessing, diagnosing, and treating eye conditions. If your child has eye or vision problems, an optometrist can work out what the problem is and how best to treat it. Optometrists do special tests and use special equipment to check how well the eyes see, how well they work together and how healthy they are.

When optometrists work with children who are not yet reading, they often try to make the eye check fun. An optometrist can check the eyes of babies as young as 6-12 months of age. Optometrists work in either private practices or retail shopping center practices. They often refer patients to ophthalmologists for more serious medical conditions or injuries to the eye.

Why your child might see an optometrist.

It is a good idea to take your child to see an optometrist every two years for an eyes doctor appointment. This helps to make sure your child’s eyes are developing properly, even if you are not concerned about your child’s vision. Also, regular checks can pick up eye problems that children either do not know about or cannot describe. It is also a good idea to take your child to an optometrist if you have a family history of poor vision or notice any of the following.

• Eye problems

Your child:

o has trouble seeing – for example, your child cannot see words clearly in a book, complains about seeing double, or closes one eye to see or read better

o has eye problems like frequent blinking or squinting

o complains of headaches or eye discomforts like blurry vision or watery, itchy, burning eyes

o seems to be sensitive to light

o is rubbing her eyes more than usual

• School problems

Your child:

o cannot see the whiteboard clearly at school and copies from the student sitting next to him.

o has trouble with homework – for example, your child struggles with it or takes a long time to finish it

o has trouble reading or loses the place while reading.

o has trouble concentrating or staying ‘on task.’

o has messy handwriting.

o avoids activities that need close vision like reading or homework, or those that need distance vision like sport.

• Problems in everyday life

Your child:

o is clumsy – for example, she bumps into things or knocks things over

o has poor hand-eye coordination.

o holds books very close to her eyes or sits very close to the TV.

o tilts her head noticeably to one side.

Some eye problems in children can be prevented or treated if they are picked up early.

If it turns out that your child has vision impairment, is short-sighted or long-sighted, or has astigmatism, your child might need prescription glasses or contact lenses. Your optometrist will let you know. Sometimes your child might need treatment only for a while – for example, he might need to do eye exercises for a few months.