When a child needs to have a checkup for their eyes, it’s important for the parents to stay involved in what’s going on. Children are often less comfortable than adults when they have to stay in the doctor’s office and this can be a challenge for the parents who might not wish to leave their child. However, this task is made easier by using a pediatric eye exam checklist!
Why do children need eye exams?
Children need to have their eyes examined routinely for various reasons. They usually require an eye exam before starting school, when they reach a certain age, or when there is suspicion of vision problems. If a child has a family history of medical conditions that affect the eyes, they may need to be seen more often.
When should your child visit the eye doctor?
When do you need to take your child to the eye doctor? The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends that all children visit the ophthalmologist at least once by the age of six. In addition, those with vision problems should see an optometrist or ophthalmologist sooner rather than later.
What are the most common medical conditions in children?
The most common medical conditions in children are:
– refractive errors
– amblyopia or poor vision development
– strabismus (crossed eyes)
Basic eye exam procedures
A basic eye exam may include a visual acuity test, dilated pupils test, and an eye pressure test. In order to perform the testing properly, your child should remove any glasses or contact lenses and stand in front of a mirror.
Wait Time for the Pediatric Eye Exam
You may not be able to avoid a pediatric eye exam; however, you can take precautions to make it go as smoothly as possible and help your child feel comfortable. Since children have different needs during the exam, it’s important to know what your child is capable of doing during his or her time with the doctor. Some kids might need their parents there the whole time; others might only need one parent in the room at a time. Whatever works for your family is fine, but just remember that your child should still be able to see the doctor while they are wearing their glasses.
Types of Medical Errors
In a pediatric eye exam, it can be easy to overlook the most obvious signs of a problem. A common mistake that parents make is to forget to look for possible corneal changes in their child’s eyes. One type of error that parents tend to notice and then neglect is a dilated pupil. The pupils should be round when looking at the eye from afar, but if you’re close up to it and the pupil looks like a slit, this is something you should investigate further.
How to Reduce Your Child’s Risk of Medical Errors
By scheduling a pediatric eye exam, parents can perform a thorough screening of their child’s vision, including the 20/20 test. This ensures that children have healthy eyes and leads to fewer complications down the road.
Conclusion
Make sure to prepare your child for the exam, and complete the following:
-Have your child read aloud from a book about the eye exam process
-Practice identifying letters and numbers that are blurry or unclear
-Make sure to talk with the doctor about any concerns you have
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