Pediatric Eye Exam in Gonzales
Just like adults, children can also experience many eye health issues and vision problems. To detect these issues early in a child’s life, a children’s eye exam is essential. Getting proper care will help prevent problems from advancing as the child gets older.
At our eye care center, we offer pediatric eye exams in Gonzales for children starting at age 4 through grade 12.
When Should Your Child See a Pediatric Optometrist?
Children—and especially young children—are not always able to communicate about problems with their sight, making eye health issues challenging to detect. Problems that go undiagnosed can be progressive and have the potential to negatively impact a child’s life as they grow up. As such, it is important for your child to see an eye doctor regularly for pediatric eye exams.
Signs your child should see a kid’s eye doctor:
- Frequent blinking, squinting, or irregular eye movements
- Frequently turning or tilting their head
- Covering or closing one eye to see better
- Poor hand-eye coordination
- Frequently touching their eyes
- Frequent headaches
- Leaning in too close to see something
- Learning difficulties
Your child could be experiencing vision problems if they exhibit these behaviors. A pediatric eye exam will help determine the cause and available treatment options. Delaying care may cause your child more serious or even permanent damage, so we recommend seeking care right away.
What Is a Comprehensive Pediatric Eye Exam?
The pediatric eye exams we offer at Accent Vision Care will detect eye defects and vision impairment in your child. We also assess your child’s risk for developing eye conditions later in life. When you visit our vision care center, our optometrists will conduct a pediatric eye exam with your child to better understand their eye health and vision needs. Based on the information gained from that exam, they will then make an accurate diagnosis of any abnormalities or vision problems present.
Visit Our Trusted Pediatric Eye Doctors in Gonzales
We urge parents to be proactive about their child’s eye health and get their child’s eyes checked regularly. Early diagnosis can prevent future eye health complications and improve the child’s quality of life greatly. Schedule your child’s eye exam in Gonzales today to ensure your child is set up for success.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should my child's eyes be examined?
Dr. Uong recommends a comprehensive eye exam for your child at the age of 4 if they are asymptomatic and there is no eye misalignment present (we provide eye exams for children in grades K-12). It is important to bring your child in for annual comprehensive eye exams to ensure their eyes and vision are developing normally.
Your child may need an eye exam at an earlier age if they have a higher risk of developing vision problems, if an eye misalignment is apparent, or if their pediatrician has detected an eye problem.
Will sitting too close to the television set hurt my child's eyes?
Sitting too close to the television usually will not cause any immediate, permanent harm to a child’s eyes, but it can create temporary eye strain and increase the likelihood that a child will become nearsighted. Our eyes are relaxed when focused at a distance. Our eye muscles are contracted when looking up close, like lifting weights. However, children can usually focus up close much better than adults.
If your child is staring at the TV screen for a long period of time, there is a tendency for them not to blink. It is important to encourage them to take breaks and focus on something in the distance.
Is my child likely to inherit my need for glasses?
Dr. Lamendola says that kids can definitely inherit their parents’ vision. For instance, a child has a 33% chance of being myopic (nearsighted) if one parent has myopia. The good news is that we offer myopia management to slow the progression of nearsightedness in children.
Why isn't a school vision screening enough?
School vision screenings are a helpful first step, but they’re not a substitute for a comprehensive eye exam. Screenings are quick pass/fail checks and typically test only basic distance vision. They frequently miss common conditions like farsightedness, astigmatism, amblyopia (lazy eye), and binocular vision problems. A child can pass a school screening and still have a vision problem that’s affecting their learning.
If a screening does identify a concern, the school will direct you to an eye doctor for a proper examination. We recommend proactive, comprehensive exams rather than waiting for a screening to catch something.