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Home › Articles › Toddler Health › Your Child's First Eye Appointment

Your Child's First Eye Appointment

When Should a Toddler See the Eye Doctor?

By Melinda Copp

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Little eyes need lots of care. However, many parents don't think to have their toddler's eyes checked because they don't anticipate poor vision being a problem until their child goes to school, or because they don't notice any symptoms of poor vision.

"Both his mother and I need glasses, but we haven't had our son's eyes checked by an optometrist because we haven't noticed any signs that his eyes are bothering him," says Matt Kraycar, a dad from Bluffton, S.C., whose son is 16 months old.

Many parents also feel that their toddler may be too young to be examined properly because they can't respond to the doctor's questions.

"Your child is never too young to be examined, especially if we suspect a high-risk problem," says Madeline Romeu, an eye doctor in private practice in West New York, N.J. "Parents equate an eye exam with having to read the letters on the eye chart; this is incorrect. We do not need the child to respond in order to evaluate their visual system."

Vision problems can affect your little one's development and interest in the world around him. If you haven't had your toddler's eyes examined, consider the following information.

When Should Toddlers Be Checked?
Daycares, pediatricians, preschools and other community programs coordinate screenings for eye alignment, which can indicate problems like eye crossing and eye wandering. This type of check may be your child's first eye exam, and the person doing the screen may recommend a visit to the eye doctor if they notice any problems.

In addition to regular screenings, the American Optometric Association recommends that infants and toddlers receive periodic professional eye assessments from an optometrist or opthalmologist.


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