Pediatric Eye Exams

The Highest Quality Children’s Eye Care in Oklahoma City

Clear, precise vision is essential for proper physical development and educational progress in growing children. Because their visual system is not fully mature, undiagnosed problems can compound with age if untreated. Unrecognized eye problems in children can severely affect development, which is why a pediatric eye exam is immensely important.

Equal input from both eyes is required for development of the brain’s visual centers. Permanent and irreversible loss of vision may result if a child’s eyes don’t provide a clear and focused image to the developing brain. Early detection of these issues provides the best opportunity for effective, affordable treatment.

When Should Children Have an Eye Exam?

In general, a primary care physician should screen infants shortly after birth and at routine well-child exams for vision problems. If screening results are abnormal, the child should be referred to a pediatric ophthalmologist for a detailed examination.

In addition, any infants considered high risk for eye problems, such as those with prematurity, neuro-developmental delay, or a family history of childhood eye disease, should have a comprehensive examination by a pediatric ophthalmologist during infancy.

However, if routine screening is normal during the first two years of a child’s life, then the first comprehensive examination by a pediatric ophthalmologist should be around 3 years old. Subsequent pediatric eye exams should occur periodically throughout the school years, or more frequently if problems develop.

The comprehensive pediatric eye exam requires dilation of the eyes and includes assessment of visual acuity, refractive error (need for glasses), eye alignment, eye movement and tracking, depth perception, color vision, visual field (peripheral vision), and assessment of all ocular structures. This allows our ophthalmologists to develop a deeper understanding of your child’s vision and eye health. Additional sophisticated testing is performed when necessary. Learn more about what to expect during a comprehensive eye examination for you or your child.