What age for first eye doc visit?

[tmarie]

I have no idea what the norm is. I didn't need glasses until grad school, but dh's family has notoriously bad sight and dh needed them in 4th grade--knowing his mother I wouldn't be surprised if he needed them earlier but they just didn't get him checked. So, given the family history, what is the typical age for taking a dc? My oldest is almost 5yo and has not complained of sight problems yet.

TIA!

tmarie

[sariana]

Your ped should check your DCs' eyes at well child visits. It is a good idea to have your child's eyesight checked more formally before starting school (kindergarten). Your child won't know to "complain" because s/he doesn't know what is normal.

If your DC attend public school, they likely will have vision screenings there as well.

Both my DC were preemies and have seen an ophthamologist at least once. DS already wears glasses (as of his 5th birthday) because he has a vision imbalance. Leaving it uncorrected could lead to worse problems later. DS says he can see better without his glasses, but he really does need them.

[SM23Mama21]

We took DS in at 6 months, but that was because I noticed his eyes turning in when tired. He did need glasses. The doctor said that with our family history of bad eye sight (which, my mother is the only one I know with very bad eyesight) that it is a good idea if I bring future children in at 4 months. I would take your son in to get them checked now. It never hurts to just check, and who knows, maybe he doesn't know to complain iykwim.

[sarahsthreads]

We took DD1 last summer, before she started kindergarten, as a baseline. Mind you, the only reason we did that was because I had gone in for my own appointment a few weeks earlier and I asked them when kids normally start getting eye exams. They told me that since DH and I both got our glasses in grade school they'd definitely want to see DD1 before she started in school.

I took her to the same place I go, so not a child-oriented practice, and they were very good with her - they didn't dilate her eyes for that first appointment, but they tested her depth perception, color vision, close and distance vision. It was an overall good experience, and now if we have to go in for a problem (like if she takes after me and manages to scratch her cornea with a stick...don't ask) or if she starts having vision problems it won't be an all new, scary place.

Sarah :)

[lilycat88]

We were later than we wanted when we took DD in at just over a year. She has no vision issues. I'm 40 and have never worn glasses or had vision problems but her dad is blind as a bat. FIL is an optmetrist and likes to see kids for the first time between 6-12 months.

http://www.infantsee.org/

[GonnaBJulymom]

Agree with PP about the infantsee program. It's free here in our state of WA for babies 6-12 mths. DS got a pair of free sunglasses as well paid for by insurance. Never too early to check for eye problems that can be corrected early on.

[connor_mommy]

If you have insurance coverage for your kids, then take them in just to get checked. It is a more intensive exam than at the peds and at school. I just took my kinder and 3.5 year old. We did have a small copay. The tests were done at their age levels.

[kijip]

Our ped always checked our older son's eyes. On his 6 year check up, he could not read the chart well and they referred us to an optometrist ASAP. He wears glasses now.

[BelleoftheBallFlagstaff]

Good q, OP! I have never though about it. My DD cna see a plane in the sky that with my corrected vision I have issues with. I do think paying attention to your kids goes a long way in noticing things like this.

[tnrnchick74]

I just had my yearly eye exam and I asked my eye doctor about it too...he said 3-4 so they can correct any problems before starting school.

[Andi98989]

We're planning on taking DS in this year through the infantsee program.

[Gena]

I'm a big fan of kids having early eye exams by an eye doctor and not just screenings at the peds or school.

Children, especially young children, often do not complain of vision poblems simply becuase they do not realize how poorly they are seeing. And some eye problems might not have any obvious signs, but can have serious vision consequences and are easier to treat at an early age. For example amblyopia affects 1-2% of kids, but often there are no outward signs and since the child is using only the "good eye", parents often think the child is seeing well.

DS has complex vision problems. He started seeing his eye doctor when he was 2 and goes 2-4 times a year. I wish that I had taken him to the eye doctor sooner.

[pinkmomagain]

My 4yo just got glasses....based off of a screening at her preschool (which she actually passed, but the director was suspicious) and then failed at the screening I took her to at the ped's office (which was optional). The ped opthamologist confirmed her need for glasses. The only thing that I've noticed over the years was if she was pointing to something far away, she would close one eye.

I don't think it could hurt to get your child some type of basic exam at this age. Even if it's just for peace of mind.

[Karenn]

I'm a big fan of kids having early eye exams by an eye doctor and not just screenings at the peds or school.



I wish we'd done this with DS. DS has glasses now. I know that if I'd taken him to an eye doctor earlier we would have realized he needed glasses sooner. The kindergarten screenings at school and the 5 y.o. screening at the doctor didn't catch his issues. It was only this year when I watched him do the screening in first grade that I figured out something was wrong. Even though I watched him fail his vision screening in the Fall, I still haven't heard from the school that we should get his vision checked. If I hadn't been there he'd still probably be seeing a fuzzy world.

[tmarie]

Well, I guess I will be calling to make an appointment! :) Dd#1 hates going to see doctors, so I hope I can find a good pediatric specialist. Thanks so much!

tmarie

[o_mom]

Age 6mo-1y, again at around 3y, then at 5y and yearly afterward is the recommended schedule.