As many as one-quarter of children have some type of vision problem, and up to 5 percent of children have lazy eye, yet most never have an eye exam until they begin school, say experts. If caught early, this common childhood eye disorder is easily treatable, but if left undetected, it can result in permanent vision loss. If your family has no history of lazy eye, children can wait until their third birthday for an eye exam. Because infants are too young to read an eye chart, pediatricians can identify a potential problem by shining a light into a baby's pupil using an instrument called an ophthalmoscope. The light causes a red reflex, which is similar to the red eye you get from flash photography.
Doctors compare the reflection of light to determine whether both eyes are in alignment.
Cibis and University of Missouri-Columbia computer engineer Jim Kelley are currently working on a more streamlined, computerized version of the test, which should be available to doctors within the next year. The software videotapes children's faces and analyzes the red reflex in the image, alerting doctors to a potential problem. What you can do The American Optometric Association recommends that your child have an eye exam every two years starting at age 6 months. Difficulty with hand-eye coordination or tendency to bump into objects The earlier lazy eye is diagnosed, the better chances for treatment. The Times indicates that children who have pet dogs cope with the process better than those who do not.