Why Your Children Should Have An Eye Exam Done When They Are Young
Taking care of a baby or small child can often feel like a full-time job. Not only do you have to keep watching them, but you also have to make sure they are fed, clothed, and cleaned virtually every single day. When you add regular medical check-ups, especially when they are newborns, to the list of things to do you may be wondering if you should schedule an eye exam if it is not medically required. Here are a few reasons why every child should get an eye exam done before they are a couple of years old.
Childhood Conditions
You may not realize this, but there are quite a few conditions that affect the eye that are far more common in children than in the general adult population. One of those problems that illustrate the need for eye exams early is amblyopia, which is also known as a lazy eye. Lazy eyes develop in children because this is when the eye is at its newest and still adapting to its environment. The good news? If this is found early on it is very easily treatable, as are most eye conditions that are found in children. You just need to take the time to get an eye exam!
Almost Impossible To Diagnose Sight Issues On Your Own
While you might think you should be able to tell if your child has problems with their vision or not, this is a far more complicated issue than you might expect, especially if your baby is too young to talk. After all, how do they verbally communicate to you that they can't see? Most children have no other experiences, so might just assume their poor vision is normal. Taking them to an eye exam early can help uncover issues you had no idea they were suffering through.
Eyes Change During Development
Just like every other part of your body, your eyes will change and should get better as you emerge out of infancy and into childhood and beyond. Unlike adults, where eyesight is fairly normal for many decades before it begins to decline, a child can experience rapid changes in their eyesight, and so regular eye exams are necessary to prevent any sudden negative outcomes. This is especially true during the first five or so years of a child's life, where you should always be monitoring their vision and how they act to see if anything changes that might require an optometrist's opinion.