Pediatric Eye Exams
Mooresville, NC
Comprehensive pediatric eye exams will assess the visual and ocular health of your kids in Mooresville, NC.
Did you know that 1 in 4 preschool-aged children have an undiagnosed or untreated vision problem? If your child has an undiagnosed vision problem, this can affect their overall development.
While pediatricians do provide some visual screening, this is no substitute for comprehensive eye exams from an expert doctor focused on eye health and vision. Learning relies so heavily on good vision and good visual skills, so it’s important to make sure your child can see their best, even before they start school.
To schedule an appointment with us at Vision Center of Lake Norman, or if you have any questions or concerns regarding pediatric eye exams, contact us today.
Why are eye exams important for children?
Children should have their eyes examined to ensure they are healthy and that they don’t have any vision problems which may interfere with their performance in school. Learning is all about vision; in fact, up to 80% of what a child learns is presented visually. Eye exams for children assess whether they have the necessary visual skills which are essential for learning:
- Excellent vision for near, up-close work and for distance.
- Comfortable and correct “eye teaming”, which means the eyes work well together and can focus on the same place in space.
- Excellent ability to switch the focus from an object up close to an object in the distance.
- Accurate eye movement skills, such as the ability to read a line of text.
What are some common vision problems in children?
The most common vision problems in children are refractive errors and focusing problems. Refractive errors occur when light does not focus correctly on the retina, the light-sensitive layer at the back of the eye, and results in blurry vision.
Myopia
A child with myopia, also known as nearsightedness, can see objects well up close, but will have problems seeing objects in the distance, like a blackboard.
Hyperopia
A child with hyperopia, also known as farsightedness, can see objects well in the distance, such as a blackboard, but have problems seeing objects up close.
Astigmatism
An astigmatism happens when the cornea, the front surface of the eye, is irregularly shaped, preventing light from focusing correctly on the retina and results in blurry vision.
Strabismus
Strabismus refers to condition in which the eyes do not look at the same place at the same time. This condition is otherwise known as “crossed eyes or misalignment of the eyes”. Strabismus typically develops in infants and children by the age of three, but older children and even adults can also develop this condition.
Amblyopia
Amblyopia occurs when vision in one or both eyes does not develop properly in childhood and is a common problem in babies in children. Also known as “lazy eye”, amblyopia is best diagnosed and treated while the child is still young, and their visual system is in development; otherwise, the child will not develop clear, healthy vision.
What are warning signs of potential vision problems in children?
Your child may not be able to tell you they have vision problems, so it’s important to be aware of the warning signs which may indicate they have vision problems.
Some early indicators of vision problems in children include the following behaviors:
- Frequent rubbing or blinking of the eyes
- Short attention span or daydreaming
- Poor reading skills
- Avoiding up close work
- Frequent headaches
- Covering one eye
- Tilting the head when reading
- Squinting one or both eyes
- Placing head close to the book or the desk when reading or writing
- Poor eye-hand coordination
If you notice some of these warning signs, be sure to share that information with your doctor when you bring your child in for a pediatric eye exam.
Schedule a Pediatric Eye Exam
At Vision Center of Lake Norman, we offer pediatric eye exams to residents of Mooresville, Davidson, Troutman, Sherrills Ford, Terrell, Huntersville, Statesville, and Cornelius, North Carolina.
Can my child wear contact lenses during sports activities?
Yes, contact lenses are a great option for children involved in sports.
When should my child's eyes be examined?
We recommend before the child starts kindergarten.
Will sitting too close to the television set hurt my child's eyes?
It can cause eye strain and headaches.
Is my child likely to inherit my need for glasses?
Yes, genetics do increase the chances of children having similar eyes as their parents