As a parent, you must provide proper eye care for your child. Protecting your child’s vision includes determining if they have issues that affect proper eye development. Scheduling your child’s first eye exam at an early age will help to determine if they have vision problems. 

Studies show that almost 30% of school-aged children have vision problems. Failing to detect and treat the problems early can lead to permanent vision loss. Find out why pediatric eye care is crucial for your child’s development.

Importance of Good Vision

Pediatric eye care impacts healthy cognitive and physical development. The eyesight helps children to understand and learn as they develop and grow. As your child grows, you should notice an improvement in their comprehension and hand-eye coordination.

Growing children learn how to make cognitive connections between the things they see and what they know. If their vision does not develop as expected, it affects how they learn. Vision difficulties impact a child’s school learning and social development.

Benefits of Early Detection

Most eye problems can be detected and treated in the early stages. While most children experience healthy eye development, some have various eye disorders that can affect vision. Some of the disorders may not be obvious to parents and caregivers.

Pediatric eye care allows doctors to monitor children’s eye health, especially if they are at high risk of eye diseases. Early eye exams help to determine if a child requires medical treatment. Family history and genetics are indicators of the need for early eye exams. 

Scheduling Pediatric Eye Exams 

Eye professionals recommend parents schedule regular pediatric eye exams from infancy. Schedule the first exam before the child turns one and the next at three years. Children should get a comprehensive eye exam before they begin school. School-aged children need regular eye exams to monitor their vision. If the doctor detects signs of vision problems, the child will need more frequent exams. 

Signs Your Child Needs an Eye Exam

Several signs can indicate a need to schedule a pediatric eye exam for your child. The signs include the following:

• Frequent eye rubbing

• Poor hand-eye coordination

• Constant squinting

• Frequent headaches

• Extreme light sensitivity

• Chronic tearing or eye redness

• Eye abnormalities, such as a white pupil

Why Pediatric Eye Care Is Crucial

Pediatric eye care is crucial for your child’s development, as the eyes change rapidly as children grow. Healthy vision helps children to develop visual acuity, proper eye teaming, and correct tracking and eye movement skills. Poor vision can hurt a child’s overall health.

Failing to detect and treat eye issues early can cause the condition to become severe, leading to vision loss or blindness. When eye issues are addressed early, it can help to prevent long-term vision and learning difficulties.

Children need regular pediatric eye exams, whether or not they have visual issues. Good vision helps children develop the required focusing skills, which is vital for success in school and life. Pediatric eye exams can also help to detect health issues, such as diabetes.

For more on why pediatric eye care is crucial for your child’s development, visit Advanced Eyecare Central Coast. You can find us in Pismo Beach, California. Call (805) 773-6000 to book an appointment today.