When Should You ScheduleYour Children's Eye Exam?
Eye exams for children are very important! 5 - 10% of preschoolers and 25% of school-aged children have vision problems!! Finding and identifying these early are crucial as children often respond to treatment much better when problems are diagnosed early!!
We have an INFANTSEE program for children from birth to 1 year that is FREE! We recommend seeing infants for their first comprehensive eye health exam between 6 - 9 months, ideally, but up to a year is fine. Additional eye health checks should occur at age 3, and just before they enter the first grade - at about age 6.
An eye health exam is recommended every two years for school aged children and those who need eyeglasses or contact lenses may need to be seen annually depending on what Drs. Hansen, Pietig, and Young suggest.
For learning, children need the basic skills related to good eyesight: Near vision Distance vision Binocular or two eye coordination Eye Movement skills Focusing skills Peripheral awareness Hand-eye coordination
During your child's eye health exam, Drs. Hansen, Pietig, and Young will include a case history, vision testing, testing of eye alignment, an eye health evaluation, and if needed, a prescription for eyewear or contact lenses. Our frame lines offer many options for those who need eyeglasses and we now offer frame and lens packages for any budget!!
Be sure when visiting with one of our doctors, that you mention if your child has or displayed any of the following: Premature birth Delayed motor development Frequent eye rubbing Excessive blinking Failure to maintain eye contact Inability to maintain or focus on objects Poor eye tracking skills Also, if they have failed a vision screening at school or their doctor
There are many other factors that are taken into consideration, such as previous eye problems or treatments such as surgeries or contact lens wear, any family history of nearsightedness or farsightedness, lazy eye or eye diseases.
Here at Ankeny Family Vision Center, we strive to see that your children receive the "personal vision care they deserve". Our doctors all love children and enjoy the fun they have when seeing them for their comprehensive eye health exams.