Pediatric Eye Care Orlando, Kissimmee, Altamonte Springs
DID YOU KNOW?
85% of the information we obtain is from our sight. Because of this, our vision is crucial in our learning, no matter our age.
It is crucial for children to receive pediatric eye care with an exam before or around the child’s first birthday. The difficulty with pediatric eye care is that children are going to have difficulty vocalizing any vision issues they might have.
A child will not always understand the differences between clear or blurry vision until the child is older. By scheduling regular eye exams, parents can ensure that their children receive the proper vision care they need.
A Customized Pediatric Exam tailored for your child
Dr. Do & Dr. Huynh tailor the pediatric exam based on a child’s age, development and any special needs. The pediatric exam consists of 4 parts:
Kid in a Phoropter
- Eye alignment Consists of various tests to look for an eye turn, which can cause a “lazy” eye.
- Color & 3D As this portion relies on your child knowing & being able to vocalize shapes & numbers, it may not be age or developmentally appropriate for your child
- Vision Evaluating your child’s vision using a vision chart & assessing whether your child needs a prescription to see 20/20. We tailor this portion of the exam to your child’s age & development, we have different vision charts & methods to check.
- Health Evaluate the health of the front & interior of the eyes to screen for sight threatening conditions.
Catch the signs early on
Parents who bring their child in for eye examination early in life will be able to help identify any vision issues. People may not realize that the eyes rely on muscles and the level of vision will change as the child ages. Since the child’s eyes are still in development at a young age, vision can change over time. We recommend that children, 1 year old to 3 years old have a Toddler Vision & Health Exam. We recommend that children, 5-years-old and up, have a yearly Pediatric Vision & Health Exam to ensure that their vision is developing properly. There are multiple signs that a child is having difficulty seeing that include:- Squinting to see at distances
- Having difficulty seeing the board from the back of the classroom
- Any head turns
- Frequent headaches
- Constantly rubbing the eyes
- Extreme sensitivity to light
- Poor focus and visual tracking
- Chronic redness or tearing of the eyes
- Difficulty reading
- Sitting too close to the TV
Baby’s Visual Development Milestones
Your baby’s development & learning can be affected if he / she cannot see well. By 5 months, you will notice your baby’s eyes will look straight for several minutes at a time. By 7 months, your baby will be able to follow objects with both eyes at distance and near. By 10 months, your baby should recognize family faces, look at & reach for small objects. *Obtained from Prevent Blindness. https://nationalcenter.preventblindness.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2020/05/2019_PB95_Newborn.pdfRecommended treatment of pediatric eye care
Toddler Ava
For children under the age of 10, glasses are the typical treatment option to help correct vision. While surgery is a possible form of treatment for some eye conditions, it is only necessary in extreme cases. It is much more cost-efficient and healthy to use corrective lenses for regular vision issues instead of surgery when surgery is not necessary.
For children who seem to be against wearing glasses, letting them pick out the frames can help. Parents can look for any plastic frames that are more durable than metal frames. While even younger children can be responsible with their glasses, accidents happen, especially with children. Children who are around 8-years-old or older may be able to wear contact lenses if they can follow all of the necessary steps.
Since one has to insert, remove and clean contact lenses on a regular basis, glasses are a preferable option until children are older. There are even forms of glasses lenses that are more durable than normal and can survive scratches, drops, and damage.
Another benefit of receiving pediatric eye care from a professional office, such as our office, is that our team is patient with children. We have the skills and understanding to treat a child’s eyes and keep them comfortable during the process. During the first consultation, one of our professionals will be able to determine the best treatment option for your child’s vision.