B-Town Eyecare
SEE BETTER. FEEL BETTER.
B-Town Eyecare
SEE BETTER. FEEL BETTER.
SEE BETTER. FEEL BETTER.
While it might seem odd to bring them in this early since they are not even able to speak yet, these exams are focused mainly on the health of the eye and detecting early signs of eye and vision disorders as well as certain types of tumors and diseases. After this, your child should be seen again at 3 years old, again before starting the first grade, and then every year unless otherwise recommended by your eye doctor.
Just because your child has not voiced an issue doesn’t always mean they are not having one. A good majority of the time vision and eye problems will go undiagnosed/overlooked because a child simply doesn’t know how to explain that they are having trouble. What’s more, if they have had an undiagnosed visual need for most of their lives, they won’t realize the blurriness they see isn’t that way for everyone else or that an unblurry world is even a possibility.
Eye exams do not only check to see if there is a need for glasses. The health of the eye both inside and out is a major component of your visit. Many eye diseases do not present any symptoms at all until irreversible damage or vision loss occurs. Furthermore, the evaluation of the eyes can also tell your eyecare provider a lot about the health of the rest of your body. For example, did you know diseases such as diabetes can be detected through eye exams? Even brain tumors are often first diagnosed by a trip to the eye doctor.
Addressing problems such as a lazy eye or eye turn early can oftentimes help to correct the issue or at least keep things from progressing. The same can sometimes be true of children who need to wear reading glasses at a young age – if their visual needs are met and tracked early on, they may outgrow the need for glasses.
Poor vision can lead to poor performance in school – Undetected vision and eye conditions can obviously impact your child’s life in a multitude of ways. If they are struggling in school – especially if they have always been a good student- this could signify an underlying visual need that isn’t being met. This could range between anything from a need for glasses to an eye muscle that isn’t functioning correctly.
What some signs might be that your child could need glasses or other vision therapy? Here are a few common symptoms to be on the lookout for:
Patient Age (Years) | Asymptomatic / Low Risk | At-Risk |
---|---|---|
Birth through 2 years | At 6 – 12 months of age | At 6 – 12 months of age or as recommended by eye physician |
Ages 3 through 5 | At least once between age 3 & 5 | At least once between 3 & 5 years of age or as recommended by eye physician |
Ages 6 through 17 | Before grade 1 and annually thereafter | Before Grade 1 and annually, or as recommended thereafter by eye physician |
An exam at the pediatrician’s office and nurse’s office at school are not replacements for comprehensive exams with an eye care professional.
Vision screening programs are intended to identify children or adults who may have undetected vision problems. If the screening indicates a vision problem, they are referred for further evaluation. However, a vision screening can’t be relied on to provide the same results as a comprehensive eye and vision examination.
Screenings can take many forms:
Often schools provide periodic vision screenings for their students
Pediatricians or other primary care physicians may do a vision screening as part of a physical/annual exam
When applying for a driver’s license, your vision will likely be screened
Vision screenings are often part of local health fairs put on by hospitals, social service agencies or fraternal groups like the Lions and Elks clubs
Vision screenings can uncover some vision problems, however, they can miss more than they find. This is a major concern about vision screening programs.
Current vision screening methods cannot be relied on to effectively identify individuals who need vision care. In some cases, vision screening may inhibit the early diagnosis of vision problems. Screenings can create a false sense of security for those individuals who “pass” the screening but who have a vision problem. These people are then less likely to receive treatment for their vision problem, and it could become worse.
To understand why vision screenings may not find a vision problem, let’s look at the factors that can limit their effectiveness.
Many vision screenings test only for distance visual acuity. While the ability to see clearly in the distance is important, it does not indicate how well the eyes focus up close or work together. It also does not give any information about the health of the eyes. Some screenings may also include a plus lens test for farsightedness and a test of eye coordination. However, even these additional screening tests will miss many vision problems.
Often, administrative personnel or volunteers who have little training conduct a vision screening. While well-intentioned, these individuals do not have the knowledge to competently assess screening results.
Even when done in a pediatrician’s or primary care physician’s office, the scope of vision screening may be limited by the type of testing equipment available. Factors such as room lighting, testing distances and maintenance of the testing equipment can also affect test results.
Your child should have their first eye exam at 6-12 months of age, even if they are not having any symptoms. This exam ensures that their vision is able to develop normally. Vision does not just happen. A child’s brain learns how to use eyes to see. If their vision is not clear for whatever reason, vision will not develop fully. The earlier a vision deficit is caught, the better the visual outcomes will be. Children should be seen annually for an eye exam. If your child is diagnosed with a vision problem or eye condition, such as amblyopia (lazy eye), they will likely need to be followed more frequently.
The extent to which a child is at risk for the development of eye and vision problems determines the appropriate re-evaluation schedule. Children with ocular signs and symptoms require a prompt, comprehensive examination. Furthermore, the presence of certain risk factors may necessitate more frequent examinations based on professional judgment.
Factors placing an infant, toddler, or child at significant risk for eye and vision problems include:
Our clinic supports the InfantSEE program developed by the American Optometric Association (AOA) and offers free eye assessments to babies between six and 12 months. This is especially important if your baby was premature or had any other birth defects.
Eye exams and visual field testing do not replace other diagnostic tests to check for brain tumors but are used in conjunction with those tests to see how the tumor is affecting your vision and whether or not those effects will likely be permanent. Getting regular eye exams and telling your eye doctor about any problems or issues you are having with your vision or in your daily life is important. Additionally, an eye exam may be the first-time abnormalities are detected and the first time a patient hears they need to be screened for tumors or growths in the brain. That is why, for some people, an eye exam can be the first step towards saving their life.
Below is an example of a child seen by Dr. Bansal for a routine baseline exam at the age of 15. Routine visual field testing revealed that she had a mass in her brain. The good news is that it was caught early, was treated, and she is now living a normal life as a teenager.
Dilation is necessary for 2 main reasons:
With today’s diagnostic equipment and tests, a child does not have to know the alphabet or how to read to have his or her eyes examined.
For young children, an eye exam can cause anxiety, especially if it is their first visit to an optometrist or if they are visiting a new clinic. Keep in mind that testing will be age appropriate and easy to answer, whether they include shapes, pictures, or letters. If your child has previously worn glasses, even if they do not currently wear them, please bring them with you. It is also very helpful for Dr. Bansal if you have a list of their medications and their medical history with you.
For infants and toddlers, we recommend bringing them after nap time and feeding. This way Dr. Bansal will have the best chance at getting the most information about their eyes. Please do not schedule them during a scheduled nap time or right before they usually have a meal.
You can also have them watch some fun videos of what happens during a typical eye exam!
Another aspect of the visual system that is checked at every pediatric eye examination is your child’s ability to use both eyes together. Normal binocular vision means that both eyes are being used simultaneously, equally, and accurately as a coordinated team. If binocular vision is not occurring, your child may experience symptoms such as eye strain, headaches, and/or double vision. Symptoms can start at any age and some diagnoses include:
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