Valerie M. Kattouf, O.D., Assistant Professor at the Illinois College of Optometry, examined the child and found he needed particularly strong prescription lenses for both eyes. The number one myth regarding eye exams on infants and young children is that you cannot get accurate information if the child can't read an eye chart. In fact, many vision problems, if detected early enough, can be successfully treated without using invasive procedures. In addition, the earlier treatment begins, the earlier a child can catch up on any developmental delays that might have been caused by impaired vision. However, according to the United States Center for Health Statistics, only 14 percent of American children under age 5 have received a comprehensive eye exam.
Many optometrists suggest yearly or more frequent examinations for at-risk patients.
Amblyopia, or lazy eye, is the loss or lack of development of vision in an eye that is unrelated to any eye health problem. It is the most serious condition responsible for more cases of vision loss in people younger than 45 than all other ocular diseases and trauma combined. Treatment before the age of 5 is critical to reverse the condition. Two to four percent of American children have amblyopia. Amblyopia gives little to no outward signs that there is a problem.