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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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What If a Problem Is Found?

If the eye doctor finds a problem with abnormal vision, eye muscles or eye health in your toddler, he or she may recommend glasses, vision therapy, medicine or even surgery. Optometrists and opthalmologists are usually cautious about giving glasses to toddlers, ensuring that only those who really need help get them. If your toddler does need glasses, he or she should wear them all the time during waking hours so the brain has clear images to interpret. This will also help prevent them from getting lost or broken. And most kids don't protest wearing them because they can see better, so let them know that glasses are just one more part of getting dressed in the morning.

"Don't be hysterical or in denial if you are told that your child needs to wear glasses, especially in front of the child," Romeu says. Most children aren't bothered by wearing glasses because so many people need them.

Your toddler's eyes are his windows to the world, and vision problems affect quality of life.

"Since most children cannot compare their visual world to anyone else's, even if they see double, they think that's the way the world looks," Brisco says. "Likewise, parents cannot tell if their child can see out of both eyes, and whether the eyes are working together to input information for learning, sports and reading. This is why it is so important to have your child's eyes checked early and yearly."


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