Pediatric Eye Exams

WHEN TO SCHEDULE A CHILDREN’S EYE EXAM

A child’s eyes go through rapid changes, especially in the first six years of life. But fewer than 15% of preschool children receive an eye exam by a professional, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And while vision screenings have become ubiquitous in schools across the country, they aren’t enough. School vision screenings miss up to 75% of children with vision problems. And 61% of the children found to have eye problems through screenings never visit the doctor or get help, according to the AOA’s evidence-based clinical practice guideline, Comprehensive Pediatric Eye and Vision Examination.

1–3-year-old

A comprehensive baseline eye exam between the ages of 6 months and 12 months

3–5-year-old

At least one comprehensive eye exam between the ages of 3 and 5 to check for any conditions that could have long-term effects

School age

An annual, comprehensive eye exam starting before first grade

According to the American Public Health Association, about 10% of preschoolers have eye or vision problems, however, at this age generally do not voice complaints about their eyes. Parents should watch for signs which frequently indicate a vision problem

• Sitting close to the TV or holding a book too close.
• Squinting.
• Tilting their head.
• Covering an eye.
• Frequently rubbing their eyes.
• Short attention span for the child’s age.
• Turning of an eye in or out.
• Sensitivity to light.
• Difficulty with eye-hand-body coordination when playing ball or bike riding.
• Avoiding coloring activities, puzzles, and other detailed activities.

If you notice any of these signs in your preschooler, schedule an appointment with our caring and compassionate doctor of Optometry today!

The American Optometric Association recommends that a child have his first comprehensive eye examination in infancy, between the ages of 6 to 12 months of age, then again between 3 and 5 years of age before entering Kindergarten and annually thereafter. Our Doctor of Optometry provides FREE comprehensive infant vision exams through the InfantSee program.

InfantSEE ® managed by Optometry Cares ®—The AOA Foundation is the American Optometric Association’s public health program designed to ensure that eye and vision care becomes an integral part of infant wellness care to improve a child’s quality of life. InfantSEE is a public health program with a mission to educate the public about the importance of comprehensive eye care beginning at 6 months of age.

Amblyopia(lazy eye)
Amblyopia, also known as occurs when the brain favors one eye, ignoring the visual input from the amblyopic eye, leading to visual pathway development to the brain from only one eye. Amblyopia typically begins in infancy or early childhood and is the most common cause of vision problems in children. Effective treatment for amblyopia includes a combination of 2 hours of patching a day with Optometric Rehabilitative Vision Therapy.

Strabismus(crossed eyes)
Strabismus affects between 2 and 4 percent of the population and is commonly associated with amblyopia. Strabismus occurs when the eyes are not aligned properly and either one or both eyes may turn inward (esotropia), outward (exotropia), upward (hypertropia), or downward (hypotropia).
Optometric Rehabilitative Vision Therapy is an effective non-surgical method for treatment of strabismus.

Convergence Insufficiency
Convergence Insufficiency is an eye condition that affects how the eyes work together when looking at nearby objects. This can cause blurry or double vision. Convergence insufficiency usually starts in childhood, but it can happen in people of all ages after a brain injury. If you have convergence insufficiency, getting early treatment with Optometric Rehabilitative Vision Therapy can help your eyes work together and alleviate symptoms.

KNOW ABOUT INFANTSEE

FREE AND COMPREHENSIVE VISION EXAMS FOR INFANTS

At Burbank Optometric Center, Inc., we specialize in InfantSEE® appointments for your baby’s vision exam. This assessment helps us understand their current and future vision development. We recommend scheduling their first vision check between six months and one year of age, and it’s completely free through InfantSEE®. During the appointment, which takes about ninety minutes, our qualified staff will conduct a thorough eye examination and address any concerns you may have.

Covid TBI

The University of Denver is leading the way in understanding the similarities between long COVID and TBI.

“If you list out the symptoms for postconcussive syndrome and you list out the expanding list of symptoms for long COVID, there is a pretty significant overlap.” “COVID infection looks like a brain injury; it has the same metabolic and inflammatory signatures.”

Optometric Rehabilitative Vision Therapy has been successfully addressing TBI symptoms such as blurred vision, double vision, dizziness, vertigo, spatial disorientation, visual midline shift. Call us today to schedule a consultation and find out if you could benefit from Optometric Rehabilitative Vision Therapy.