As everyone with children gets settled back into another school year, I thought it would be fitting to discuss eye care for kids. Most children get a screening visual acuity test when they start school. If a child s vision is not within normal range then a letter is sent home to the parents advising them to make an appointment for their child to see an eye doctor for further evaluation.
Pediatricians often check vision as part of a child s routine physical.
If it is recommended that your child have an eye exam please do not delay in making an appointment. Many eye problems can be corrected if they are caught early on. Parents, if you notice a problem with your children s eyes before they reach school age, please consult your pediatrician. Symptoms such as one eye turning in or out occasionally or a toddler that is constantly bumping into objects should be checked by an eye doctor. We frequently get questions from parents whose teenagers have come home with a friend s contact lenses in their eyes.