Pediatric Exams
Our eyes are important! It is estimated that 60% of our brain has something to do with vision and 80% of what we learn is through our eyes.
While school screenings and vision checks with your pediatrician are an important step in identifying some vision issues, they do miss up to 2/3 of vision problems. In fact, significant vision problems that interfere with learning can exist even if your child has 20/20 vision.
Fact: 1 out of 4 children have a vision problem and up to 60% of students with learning problems have undetected vision problems.
Pediatric eye exams are 100% necessary to give children the tools they need to learn and grow.
When should I bring my child in?
The Academy of Optometry recommends a child’s first professional eye exam at 6 months old, followed by 3 years old and just before kindergarten.
What to expect at your child’s exam:
The exam will be tailored to the child’s abilities. The doctor will examine the refractive error, internal and external eye health, and many functions of the visual system, without the child needing to talk.
Typically, this information can be gathered very quickly, in a matter of minutes. We try to keep pediatric exams short, playful, and fun, while getting the data we need.
Depending on age, they may put on special 3-D glasses, identify shapes, or complete more of the evaluations familiar to adults.
Your child may need to be dilated to give the doctor a better view into the eye and a more thorough evaluation of prescriptions that may be hidden by the focusing system. Dilation drops to last 2-4 hours.
Tips for your young child’s exam:
Tips for your young child’s exam:
- Don’t schedule an appointment near nap-time. We need to see those eyes open!
- Feel free to bring a favorite toy or stuffed animal.
- Siblings are often distracting during the exam.
Parents should be on the look-out for signs that may indicate a vision problem, including:
- Sitting close to the TV or holding things too close
- Squinting
- Often tilting their head to one direction
- Covering an eye
- Frequent rubbing of eyes
- Appearance of a white pupil
- Short attention span for the child’s age
- An eye that turns or wanders
- Complaints of eye strain or fatigue
- Complaints of headaches after near work
- Losing place when reading or seeing double
Is your child nearsighted?
They may benefit from a myopia management program.
We are providers of the InfantSEE program.
Visit InfantSEEP: (218) 263-3633
F: (218) 729-2445
1311 East 34th Street
Hibbing, Minnesota 55746
Hours:
Monday-Friday: 9am-5pm
P: (218) 741-5886
F: (218) 729-2445
413 Chestnut Street
Virginia, Minnesota 55792
Hours:
Monday-Thursday: 9am-5pm | Friday: 9am-4pm
P: (218) 624-1804
F: (218) 729-2445
405 North 57th Avenue West
Duluth, Minnesota 55807
Hours:
Tuesday-Friday: 9am-5pm