Pediatric Eye Exams in Colorado Springs
Many people have grown up with the idea that the time to see a family eye doctor comes when regular school vision screening reveals that there is a problem with how a child is seeing, or a vision issue is suspected because of poor school performance. But today, more and more parents are making sure that their kids never have to get a step behind in order to look forward. Today, a child's first visit with their optometrist in Colorado Springs can come when they are as young as six months old. When eye care begins early, any issues can be identified early before it has any major effect on learning.
Getting Started With Pediatric Eye Exams
When a baby is born, their vision is far from 20/20. There is a lot of development that needs to happen before they can recognize different things in the world around them and see them clearly. Their visual development is connected to their hand-eye coordination and even gross motor skills like crawling and walking. In order to accomplish these important milestones, a baby's eyes need to work together as a team, which is why babies see their pediatric eye doctor for an eye exam when they are right around six months old.
It may seem amazing, but even without a vision chart and a child's ability to follow directions, a pediatric eye doctor can determine whether there are signs of eye teaming troubles, such as a misalignment of the eyes, farsightedness, nearsightedness, or astigmatism.
Eye Care For Preschoolers
As kids move into the preschool range, age 2-5, there is another big jump in motor skills and intellectual abilities that develop with them. Vision is a big part of this, whether their interests lie in sports, drawing, building, or something else. Good eye teaming becomes more important than ever, and your family eye doctor can look for signs of conditions such as lazy eye or crossed eyes. Both conditions are relatively common in young children, but learning delays can often be averted or at least limited when these conditions are caught early.
Seeing Your Family Eye Doctor With Your School-Age Child
When kids are in school maintaining their vision becomes even more important. Undetected poor vision can take a toll on their self-esteem, as well as cause them to suffer in academics and athletics. If you notice changes in your child's behavior or habits, it is possible that vision issues may be playing a role. Some behaviors to watch for include
- Headaches
- Frequent blinking
- Tilting the head to one side
- Problems Reading
- Short attention span
- Double vision
When any of these issues arise, a vision check should be near the top of your list in order to rule out any potential issues. To learn more or schedule your appointment with a family eye doctor contact us at Chapel Hills Vision Clinic in Colorado Springs, CO, at (719) 599-5083.
