Schedule a Pediatric Eye Exam in Austin, TX
Children’s eyes change rapidly as they grow, so uncorrected eye problems can further damage their eye health. Eye problems can also negatively impact a child both academically and socially. Schedule a pediatric eye exam at Westlake Eyecare in Austin, TX, so we can detect, diagnose, and treat any problems that would impede your child’s success. As children’s eye specialists, you can count on us to examine and care for your little loved ones with compassion.
When to Schedule a Pediatric Eye Exam
At Westlake Eyecare we begin seeing children around 5 years of age and at the start of school. Vision exams are important for all children but especially important for children who have risk factors, such as lazy eyes, developmental delays, and premature birth. Youth who wear eyeglasses should have an eye exam every year.
Children should undergo pediatric eye exams at six months of age because vision development and eye health problems are easier to correct if they are treated early. During this exam, our children’s eye specialists will test for excessive or unequal amounts of nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism. We also will evaluate the child’s eye movability and health problems.
Young children experience rapid growth in intelligence. They also develop motor skills and coordination that help them read, write, and play. Poor vision and eye function can delay or hamper these skills. This age range is when parents should be on the lookout for visual conditions, such as lazy eyes or crossed eyes. The treatment and correction of these conditions are much more successful when discovered at an earlier age.
Signs It’s Time for a Pediatric Eye Exam
As children get older, undetected or uncorrected vision problems can lead pre-teens and teenagers to perform poorly in school, sports, and other social and recreational activities. Frustration related to their performances and an inability to articulate the problems they are having can also lead to behavioral problems.
Academic performance and learning, motor development, focus, and recreational activities depend on good vision and proper eye function. For instance, good hand-eye coordination is necessary to play sports.
As children reach their pre-teen and teenage years, it is easy to right off signs, like short attention span and poor reading comprehension, as them being lazy, unmotivated, or uninterested. However, an eye problem can be the cause. Getting an eye exam is critical to determining whether eye function or disease is causing problems.
Common signs of vision problems in older children include:
- Headaches
- Frequent blinking
- A lack of interest or an avoidance to reading
- Frequently losing their places while reading
- Constant head tilting to one side
- Double vision
- Poor reading comprehension
- Short attention spans
If you notice any of these signs, contact the Westlake Eyecare children’s eye specialists right away. Our comprehensive eye exams will determine the best way to correct any problems.