Children’s Eyecare

Children’s eyes are precious

Clear vision is essential for your child’s educational, physical and social development.

With 1 in 5 Australian children requiring on-going assessment or suffering from a vision problem that has gone undetected, it is important that early diagnosis of any eye problems is critical.

At VisionPro our optometrists are experienced in providing children’s eye care services, offering eye examinations for children of all ages.

When should you have your child’s eyes examined?

At 6 months, the focus is on detecting early vision problems and ensuring proper eye development through various tests like Fixation and Following, Pupil Response, and Preferential Looking Tests.

At 3 years, attention shifts to monitoring vision development and identifying emerging issues using LEA Symbols, Cover-Uncover, and Colour Vision Tests.

Just before starting school, it’s crucial to ensure the child’s eyes are ready for academic challenges with tests like the Snellen Chart, Binocular Vision, and Depth Perception Tests, aiming to catch any late-developing issues or update prescriptions.

Optometry Australia recommends that children have regular visits as they progress through primary and secondary school. For most children, we recommend examinations every 2-3 years.

Screen time & your child’s eyes

The most common eye problem amongst children is myopia, or short-sightedness.

Children increasingly engage in near vision activities and a recent study showed the prevalence of myopia doubled in Australia between 2005 and 2011 amongst 12 year olds.

A child suffering from myopia will find many school activities difficult, such as reading the whiteboard in class, and they may also experience headaches, and rub their eyes frequently.

Myopia can significantly increase the risk of developing serious eye health issues later in life. High levels of myopia are particularly associated with an elevated risk of retinal detachment, glaucoma, cataracts, and myopic macular degeneration. These conditions can lead to vision impairment or even vision loss, underscoring the importance of managing myopia effectively and monitoring eye health regularly.

For more information, please see: https://mykidsvision.org/