VISION CARE FOR CHILDREN

Children's vision can be assessed at very early ages. A child’s vision should be checked according to the general guidelines for vision care. Also, if you feel that your child may have vision problems, an examination by your optometrist is the best solution.

Although it is often thought that testing a child’s vision is difficult due to the way the patient needs to answer questions, a very clear picture of a child’s vision and eye health can be obtained by testing at just about any age. Here are some common tests done on children as part of our Community Vision Services screening programs, and what they mean. The testing done in an optometrist’s office covers these areas also, but in more detail.

COLOR VISION: This test is designed to screen the child's ability to distinguish colors without having to name them. Children with normal color vision pass this test and those with genetically determined color deficiencies do not. The test differentiates between normal and abnormal color vision. Difficulties in discriminating colors can interfere with learning.

VISUAL ACUITY: This determines how well each eye sees detail. The letter "E" is used in a matching game for children less than age seven and a standard letter chart is used for older children. This is primarily a test of how well the child sees details at distance. The most common reason for failure is the need for a spectacle correction, but some children have amblyopia (lazy eye) as well.

BINOCULAR COORDINATION: This determines how well both eyes point to the same place. It is checked with the eyes looking at distance and at nearpoint This helps determine if the child's eyes are misaligned such as with strabismus, e.g. crossed eyes, in which both eyes do not see the same thing, or whether there is a muscle imbalance which might interfere with the child's school performance.

REFRACTIVE ERROR: The power of lens necessary to focus a light correctly within the child's eyes is measured without asking questions, and this tells us what lens power would be required for the child to see clearly at distance. This objective test does not require the child to make decisions about how clearly they see but it determines whether they are farsighted, nearsighted or have astigmatism. This roughly determines if the child needs glasses.

POSSIBLE EYE DISEASE: The tissues outside and inside the eye are examined with a special instrument to determine whether or not the eye and neighboring tissues appear normal and healthy. The evaluation inside the eye is done by looking through an undilated pupil.

As always, the link between good vision and learning makes the checking of vision in children specially important. If you child has not had a vision examination recently, consider having a checkup. As children grow, in many cases the need for glasses changes.

To make an appointment with UAB Optometry, call (205) 975-2020

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