According to multiple studies, 70 to 75 percent of Americans wear some sort of corrective lenses. Chances are you even wear glasses or contact lenses. For parents, then, the issues become how to protect a child’s eyes, what signs indicate something could be wrong and what actions should parents take.
During infancy, pediatricians will begin assessing and asking questions about vision. At this time, indicators of less than perfect sight may include trouble focusing or poor visual tracking of an object after 6 months of age. A few other things to watch for include constant eye rubbing, light sensitivity, chronic redness or tearing of the eyes and a white pupil instead of black (www.KidsHealth.org).
Dr. Diane Galbrecht, Olathe, recommends infants between 6 months and 1 year see an optometrist. If all is well, the next visit should occur at age 3.
Between ages 3 and 5, your pediatrician will conduct a vision screening along with your child’s physical exam. Depending on the results of this screening, there may be no need for further evaluation until the school years. Once your child enters school, a vision acuity check will be done one to two times per year and referrals to an optometrist will be made as needed. Dr. Galbrecht recommends all school-age children see an optometrist yearly in addition to these screenings. Signs of difficulty seeing at this age may include inability to see objects at a distance, difficulty reading the blackboard, squinting, trouble reading books up close or sitting very close to the television.
For children at this age, being uneasy about what an eye doctor appointment entails and the fear of the unknown can be hurdles. As caregivers, we can lessen this anxiety by explaining beforehand what to expect and being honest: those drops may sting for a minute.
If your adolescent or teen already wears glasses, there may be some discussion of contact lenses. Many doctors recommend waiting until ages 11-14 before introducing contact lenses. Allowing children to wear contact lenses depends on their ability to insert and remove the lenses properly, as well as their ability to clean them, as most problems are related to hygiene and poor habits (www.AllAboutVision.com). Contact lenses may help the teen feel less self-conscious and can be very beneficial for sports. Plus, they are easy to place and very comfortable if fitted correctly.
If you have any questions or concerns about your child’s eye health, contact your family doctor or pediatrician. Also, ask about national and statewide services that are available to help financially.
Jessica Heine lives in Olathe with her beautiful 3 year old girl and 11 month old handsome boy. She is a labor and delivery nurse.