How early can you bring your children in to see the Optometrist? For our office, as early as 6 months! The children don't even need to speak or respond for some of these early tests. The optometrist with some of the tools in their hands can visualize your children's eye abnormalities.
There are a few things we look for in children:
- At 6 months: rule out congenital glaucoma, cataract, high astigmatism/very signifcant farsightedness/near sightedness, and crossed eye.
After the initial one, children can be checked yearly. More tests can be done depending on each child's comprehension level and recognition of numbers or letters.
- Relevant History: family history, performance in school.
- Visual Acuity: describes size of details children can see.
- Eye co-ordination: monitor alignment, and depth perception, rule out strabismus (crossed) or lazy eyes.
- Refraction: check and monitor for farsightedness, nearsightedness, and astigmatism.
- Eye health examination: check for inflammation and infection of lids, cornea, conjunctiva on the external eye, and check for cataract, glaucoma and retinal concerns of the internal eye.
- Advice/counselling to prevent infection, minimize myopia changes.
Ask your Optometrist if they see children at your child's age before you book!
Dr. Yan L. Liang, BSc OD
Markham Optometrist
www.wardenoptometry.ca