Help Your Child See a Brighter Future

Your child depends on their vision to discover the world around them, but eye conditions could harm this essential sense and affect your child’s quality of life. As a parent, you can help protect their vision. All you have to do is ensure they have regular eye exams.

We tailor our eye exam process to be as comfortable and convenient as possible for all children, no matter their needs or age. Whether it’s to help them see the front of the class better or to help them keep their eye on the ball when they make that game-winning home run, we’re here to ensure your child’s vision is serving them as best as possible.

Discover the difference our pediatric optometrists can make for your child, and book their children’s eye exam in Lake Elsinore today.

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When Should Your Child Have Their First Exam?

The key to detecting and diagnosing your child’s vision and eye health is to ensure they have regular eye exams.Your child’s eyes can change from birth to adolescence, and some of these changes could affect their visual quality and eye health. Because many of these issues may not be obvious for your child, we recommend having eye exams at the following visual milestones:

Toddler (1 to 3 Years)

Your child should have their first eye exam just after their first birthday. While their eyes will still be developing at this age, it’s important for our team to ensure their eyes are healthy.

Our doctors look for signs of eye conditions like amblyopia (lazy eye) or strabismus (crossed eyes) during this eye exam and make sure their visual skills (including eye tracking, depth perception, and hand-eye coordination) are developing as we expect.

Pre-Schooler (3 to 5 Years)

Your child’s next eye exam should occur between the ages of 3 and 5. Eye conditions like amblyopia and strabismus commonly develop around this age, but our team can detect their early signs and provide your child a chance to manage these issues as they grow older.

School-Age (6 to 18 Years)

Entering school is an important time for any child, and their vision will be one of their most essential tools as they learn, play, and grow.

However, eye conditions like myopia can affect their performance, making it difficult for them to play sports or achieve the grades they want. To manage these potential issues, we recommend annual eye exams between ages 6 and 18.

Common Pediatric Eye Conditions

Myopia

Myopia, also known as nearsightedness, is one of the most common eye conditions. As your child grows up, their eyes can elongate, making light focus in front of their retina, resulting in blurry distance vision. High myopia cases increase the risk of experiencing retinal detachment and permanent vision loss.

Over 30% of children have some degree of myopia, but that number is expected to rise to 50% by 2050. While myopia is common, we can help manage their symptoms with tailored strategies based on their lifestyle and comfort.

Amblyopia

Amblyopia, or lazy eye, is a common eye condition characterized by a wandering eye. This condition can develop in children up to 7 years old and can affect their vision for the rest of their lives. Amblyopia could be a permanent condition, but we can help treat and manage its effects with corrective lenses or with vision therapy.

Strabismus

Strabismus, also known as crossed eyes, is an eye condition that affects your child’s eye alignment. It generally develops if your child has a high refractive error or poor eye muscle control.

Over time, your child’s brain may start to ignore images from their “weaker” eye and lead to vision loss. However, strabismus does respond well to treatments like corrective lenses or recommending vision therapy.

Conjunctivitis

As a parent, it’s important for you to be aware of conjunctivitis, otherwise known as “pink eye.”

Conjunctivitis is an eye infection that can easily pass between children at school or daycare through viruses or bacteria, but it may also be caused by allergies or chemical exposure. Symptoms are often similar among types and can include:

Redness
Wateriness
Crusty discharge
Discomfort
Itchiness
Grittiness

If chemical contact causes your child’s symptoms, flush their eyes with cool, clean water for 15 minutes, and call our team immediately.

Preserve Your Child’s Gift of Sight

Your child deserves to feel confident and comfortable with their eyesight, and our team is here to ensure they have all the help they need. Book your child’s appointment today!

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Our practice is in the Lake Elsinore Town Center shopping plaza between the Threading Lounge and Union Acupuncture Clinic. We offer plenty of parking with accessible options out front.