Posted by: Aker Kasten Eye Center in Pediatric Eye Care on February 15, 2018
It is not easy to know when your child has a vision problem or when they require treatment from an eye care professional. For this reason, regular eye exams are a valuable tool in determining your child’s eye health. Many children may simply require an evaluation by their pediatrician. But if a child has a family history of eye problems or exhibits specific symptoms related to eye issues, they need to visit an eye care professional. Here are specific signs of eye problems that you can watch out for in your child.
Symptoms of vision problems in children
If your child exhibits poor academic performance, has a hard time paying attention in school, difficulty reading and writing, problems seeing information on the chalk board, double vision, blurry vision, headaches or eye pain, or takes longer than average to finish homework they may have a vision problem.
The eye exam
There are several components that are included in a child’s eye exam. First, the health care provider will assess the eyes and eyelids and use tests to evaluate eye muscle movements and examine the pupils. For older children, an ophthalmoscope is used to examine the back of the eye. Corneal light reflex testing and cover testing are also conducted. Depending on your child’s age, a visual acuity test will be done. Amblyopia (lazy eye), strabismus (crossed eyes), and refractive errors are the most common eye problems in children. All of these conditions will be tested for during your child’s eye exam.
At your child’s eye exam, be prepared to answer the following questions about their eye health: does your child appear to see well? Does your child hold books or other objects unusually close to their face? Do your child’s eyes seem to be focused or straight? Do your child’s eyes appear to cross or drift? Is there anything unusual about your child’s eyes? Do your child’s eyelids droop? Has your child ever experienced an eye injury?
Schedule a consultation
For more information about maintaining healthy eyesight and other services that Aker Kasten Eye Center offers, call us today. You can reach our team by calling (561) 338-7722 at our office located in Boca Raton, Florida.