The first few years after your child is born are often a flurry of appointments at various doctors. Between check-ups, shots, and examinations, it can be easy to lose track of where to bring your kid in next. However, it’s essential to make sure that you’re keeping up on all the different examinations your child needs. The first few years can be some of the most important for development, so ensuring all your bases are covered is a must. Regular pediatric examinations start pretty much directly after birth, but what about your child’s eyes? When should your child have their first eye appointment?

Understanding the Recommendations

Many parents end up waiting until their kid is old enough to get regular vision screenings through their school. Still, the American Optometric Association (AOA) recommends that you get your child a complete comprehensive eye exam as early as six months. So long as everything seems normal, your child’s next comprehensive exam should come at three years, and then another one at five or six, just before your child starts school. From then on, children with no vision issues should be examined every two years.

Those numbers are different if your child requires vision correction or has certain pre-existing conditions. If you notice your child struggling to see things or fail a standard vision screening, they may need comprehensive exams more frequently. You also may need more frequent examinations if your child has a medical condition, like Down syndrome or prematurity, a learning disability or developmental delay, or if vision issues like amblyopia or strabismus run in your family. If your child requires corrective lenses, then comprehensive exams should be performed annually instead of once every two years, or more often if recommended by your optometrist.

Call Us to Find Out More

For any other questions, it’s always a good idea to get in touch with an optometrist’s office. They’re always happy to share information and make sure your child gets all the care they need to set them up for the rest of their lives.