Discover Why Children’s Eye Exams Are Important And Why They Are Important

By Author: Eye Smile
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Because vision is so important in how children perceive and learn about the world, they should have their first comprehensive eye exam (dilated eye exam) when they are three years old, if possible. Unless their eye doctor advises otherwise, they should also continue to receive biannual eye exams.

Even when your child begins school and is subjected to visual examinations, regular eye exams at the optometrist are recommended. Visual acuity (sharpness and clarity) is tested in visual examinations, but healthy, normal eyes are about more than just 20/20 vision.

What is the difference between a comprehensive eye examination and a vision screening?

A comprehensive eye exam includes testing general eye health, as well as an eye coordination and ocular refraction test, and a full medical history of the child. This is a thorough examination to verify whether any eye problems have been identified. This test is performed on children ranging in age from 12 months to 19 years. Because vision screening consists of only one or two vision tests, it can only detect a few vision issues. Approximately 40% of children with ...
... vision issues can readily pass vision screening examinations.

Be prepared for the first eye exam

You should schedule your children's eye exams in Twickenham at a time that fits into their routine when they are calm, happy and alert. Following your appointment, you may mail a case history form, but some eye care practices have forms available on their websites that you may download and print at home before your appointment. Alternatively, you may not receive a form until you arrive at the doctor's office.

The medical history form will request information regarding your child's birth history, such as whether or not the child was born full-term and his or her birth weight. Your eye specialist may also inquire about any difficulties that may have occurred during the birth or even during pregnancy. Other questions will revolve around your child's medical history, such as any allergies and current medications.

When taking your children to their children's eye exams in Twickenham, make sure to mention whether your child has failed a vision check at school or during a visit to his or her paediatrician. Your child's eye doctor will also want to know about previous eye problems and treatments, such as surgeries and glasses or contact lens wear.

Also, notify your eye doctor if you have a family history of strabismus, refractive errors, eye illnesses or amblyopia, or any other problems or abnormalities you have discovered. Many parents find it surprising that children of preschool age do not need to know the letters of the alphabet to have some eye tests performed on them, even if they are too shy, or too young to express themselves verbally.

Common visual disorders in schoolchildren include the following in addition to astigmatism, farsightedness, and near-sightedness:

• Focusing issues, poor depth perception, and colour blindness. Your child's depth perception, focusing ability (accommodation), esophoria, colour vision, and other abilities may also be tested by your eye doctor.

• Amblyopia or ‘lazy eye’. During your children’s eye exams in Twickenham, your eye doctor will want to rule out amblyopia, sometimes known as ‘lazy eye’, which is characterised by a diminished vision in one or both eyes without visible anatomic damage. Unfortunately, ‘lazy eye’ cannot always be corrected with contacts or reading glasses and to strengthen the weaker eye, may necessitate eye patching.

• Strabismus or ocular misalignment. Misaligned or crossed eyes (known as Strabismus in medical terms) can be caused by a variety of factors, including muscle control issues in the affected eyes or eye.
Finally, a child who is unable to see what is written on the blackboard, or even print, can become easily frustrated, resulting in poor academic achievement. Some vision disorders, such as lazy eye, are best addressed if they are recognised early and corrected while the child's vision system is still developing, which is why your children's eye exams in Twickenham should begin at a young age.

About us :

EyeSmile are an independent family-owned and operated practice, located in Whitton, in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. We are focused on delivering bespoke, personalised and professional dental, facial and optical services of world-class standards to all our patients, and to do so, we offer a modern, comfortable and relaxed environment. At EyeSmile, we rely on the latest and most innovative techniques, which are applied through all treatments methods at our practice, and we also use updated knowledge to ensure the best results for patient satisfaction. Every patient’s needs in terms of dental services, facial aesthetics or optical services are fully addressed by our qualified and experienced team of hand-selected professionals who share our passion for providing high-quality treatments with outstanding customer service. Find out more by visiting our website at https://www.eyesmile.com.