Q: I know I should have my child’s eye’s examined at 6 months of age but how can you get good information from a child that has not learned to talk yet?

A: Accurate results can be obtained from children and adults whom can not communicate verbally. Rather than asking the patient “which is better”, objective tests are used which require no responses from the child. Computerized testing and a diagnostic procedure called retinoscopy can be used to determine an accurate prescription for young children. Drops can often improve the accuracy of these procedures. Your child will also be examined for “lazy eye”, abnormal ocular development, and eye diseases.

Frequently, the examination takes only 15-20 minutes, and the vast majority of children enjoy their time at the office. Best results are usually obtained if the visit is scheduled when your child is usually at his or her best, by avoiding nap times or typically fussy periods.

Technorati Tags: eye exam, child, eye care, optometrist, pediatric