Exams

[Liz]

How early should a child get an eye exam and how often?

[Ms. Kathy]

Newborn babies are screened in the hospital by checking the eyes for abnormalities. After that, during the postnatal check ups, babies eyes are looked at again. A pediatric opthamologist may be called to the hospital more often for premature babies in case of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP).

The following info is found at www.clevelandclinic.org/eye/linked/asp/print.asp?URL=/eye/patient_info/children.asp&Title:

---

The American Academy of Ophthalmology (the medical society for eye doctors) recommends that children have eye examinations at these intervals:

Once before the child is 3 months old.
Once between the ages of 6 months and 1 year.
Once at about 3 years of age.
Once at about 5 years of age.

---

For normal vision some sources say eye exams should be performed once per year as part of the annual physical routine. Others say once every three years is sufficient. Different eye conditions may require that a child see an opthamologist more often. For instance, because of the nature of diabetes a doctor may recommend visits every 6 months. Children with myopia (nearsightedness) or hyperopia (farsightedness) should probably have annual eye exams.

---

I have since found anoither link on this sunject at:
www.eyefinity.com/consumer/html/consumer_childvision_a12.htm?fromvsp=Y