Eye Exams for Kids, in Denver, CO
We Have a Full Time Optometrist Providing Complete Pediatric Eye Care!
Help your children excel by making sure they have excellent vision! Sharp eyesight is essential for all types of learning, from reading and writing to developing coordination on the sports field. When kids can’t see well, they often fail at many tasks – leading to poor self-esteem. In turn, this can diminish their confidence when it comes to making friends and socializing. At Peepers Optical, our Denver eye doctor will perform a thorough pediatric eye exam to check that your child’s visual system gets a top grade!
As soon as you and your kid enter our modern and pleasant eye care clinic, you’ll benefit from our full attention. We aim to form a good relationship with each patient, and we’ll get to know your child’s unique personality, eye health condition, visual needs and expectations. We want all parents and children to feel comfortable, and it helps to know what to expect.
How can I prepare my child for an eye exam?
If he is old enough to understand, you should explain that the eye doctor will show him some images and objects to identify. These could be letters, numbers, pictures, or shapes of light cast on the wall.
Tell older children that the eye doctor might insert eye drops, which may sting mildly for only a few seconds. The drops will also make their vision blurry for a while.
Remember to reassure your child that parents can stay in the room for the whole eye exam, and we can examine very young children on a parent’s lap.
What do I need to bring to my child’s eye exam?
At your first visit with our optometrist, you will need to fill out a form that asks for your child’s medical case history, family eye history, medications and allergies. If your child wears eyeglasses or contact lenses, please bring them to the appointment. It is important to tell us if your child has any vision complaints.
What tests will the eye doctor perform?
The tests and procedures vary depending upon your child’s age, overall health condition, vision condition, and stage of development. Every kid is unique – and we customize every pediatric eye exam to meet the unique needs of the individual patient.
In general, our Denver eye doctor will evaluate a wide range of necessary vision-related skills in kids of all ages, including:
- Visual acuity
- Binocularity (eye teaming)
- Accommodation (focusing ability)
- Peripheral vision
- Tracking skills
- Hand-eye coordination
- Color vision
- Eye health – we will inspect inner eye tissues, checking for any signs of disease or abnormality
Why does my child need an eye exam if she has no vision complaints?
As children grow older and mature, regular eye exams are critical! Untreated vision conditions can harm kids’ performance in all areas of life. The earlier we diagnose a vision condition, the earlier we can treat it and prevent complications. If your child regularly loses her place while reading, has trouble maintaining focus, suffers from headaches or sees double, these are all strong warnings that you need to schedule an eye exam.
Even if your child has no vision complaints, routine pediatric eye exams are recommended. Kids do not always complain when they can’t see well, and unfortunately, many vision problems go undetected.
When should I schedule my child’s eye exam?
The American Optometric Association (AOA) advises the following guidelines:
1st exam: half-year old
2nd exam: 3 years of age
3rd exam: prior to entering elementary school, around 5-6 years old
Follow-up exams: every 2 years (minimum) for children with no pediatric risk factors and no eyeglasses. If your child requires vision correction, vision therapy, or other treatment, our eye doctor will tell you how often to book regular eye exams
What happens after a pediatric eye exam?
After we finish your child’s eye exam, we’ll share the results with you. If vision treatment is required, we’ll discuss the best course of action together. Eyeglasses or contact lenses may be the ideal solution for some conditions. An eye patch, ortho-k lenses, or vision therapy may be most appropriate for other children. Your kid’s full diagnosis will determine the treatment.
We want to help your child maximize his potential with quality vision. Contact our Denver office to reserve a pediatric eye exam today!
