Pediatric Eye Care
Until about age 4 the eyes change quickly. Your pediatrician should exam the eyes during these years.
Age 5: The State of Illinois requires an eye examination and the submission of proof of that by October 15 of the year that your child first starts kindergarten or entering a new school. This examination will ensure that your child will be able to see when at school. The form can be downloaded here.
After age 6: Children who had any abnormality when seen on their first examination should have an exam on a yearly basis. Children’s eyes are still changing quickly and as the child grows, so do the eyes. A child who does not need glasses who grew 4 inches in the last six months, may need new glasses even sooner than a year.
We suggest a routine eye exam for all kids after the age of six unless there is some complaint and they should be seen immediately.
Headaches, learning difficulty or troubles reading can be a sign of the need for glasses or may hide a more significant problem.
Parents recognize problems first: We have found that parents are usually the first to notice eye problems. Give us a call if you notice any of the following:
- Trouble seeing small objects
- Poor ability to follow an object
- Abnormal movement of the eyes
- One eye turning in or out (cross-eyes or wall-eye)
- Frequent eye rubbing
- Sensitivity to light
- Redness
- Tearing
- A white pupil instead of black
In school-age children, watch for other signs such as:
- Troubles seeing in the distance such as the blackboard
- Troubles seeing up close or troubles reading
- Squinting
- Complaints of itching
- Difficulty learning
