Our VisionArts Eyecare Center Optometrist Checks Kids’ Eyes
Your child needs clear and comfortable vision to learn well, excel on the sports field, and interact socially with confidence. Kids who have trouble seeing often fail at various tasks, which leads to poor self-esteem. An undetected or untreated pediatric vision condition can therefore turn school into a difficult challenge and put your child at high risk for many problems.
The best way to prevent this from happening is to bring your child to Dr. James Vann, our eye doctor in Fulton, Missouri, for regular eye exams.
At VisionArts Eyecare Center, our office starts seeing children around age five, when they can read the alphabet independently. Before this age, we recommend that you bring your child to a Pediatric Optometrist for a full examination. Once your child is a bit older and can read the ABC’s, our eye doctor in Fulton, Missouri, will check his or her eyes. To help you understand vision and spot the warning signs of a problem, we provide the following information about vision during all stages of childhood, including for babies and toddlers.
Where can you find Eye Saftey Protection & Prevention services in Fulton, Missouri?
Preschool-age children should receive at least one in-person comprehensive eye and vision examination between the ages of 3 and 5 to prevent and/or diagnose and treat any eye or vision conditions that may affect visual development. One in five preschoolers has a vision problem.American Optometric Association
Call VisionArts Eyecare Center on 573-818-2111 in Fulton, MO to schedule an eye exam with our optometrist.
How to Identify warning Signs of a Vision Problem
We encourage all parents and educators to watch out for signs of a vision disorder. The earlier you notice these red flags, the easier it is to prevent various problems with learning and development. It is not unusual for kids to be misdiagnosed with a condition such as ADD/ADHD, when a vision condition is really the culprit.
Behaviors that could indicate a vision problem:
- Squinting, or closing one eye to see
- Excessive blinking
- Frequent eye rubbing
- Inability to hold a steady gaze
- Headaches
- Wandering eye, or crossed eyes
- Head tilting or turning
- Avoidance of reading
- Sitting very close to screens or holding books close to the face
- Droopy eyelid
- Poor tracking skills
- Short attention span
If you notice of the above signs, contact our Wylie optometrist to schedule a pediatric eye exam. * Note: If your child suffers any other uncomfortable or painful symptoms or has an eye injury, we also provide treatment for eye emergencies in Fulton, Missouri.
What to expect during a Pediatric Eye Exam
The specific tests and procedures that our eye doctor in Fulton, Missouri, will perform depend upon your child’s age and stage of development. No matter what tests Dr. James Vann administers, he always uses a friendly, gentle manner to reassure your child and ensure a positive eye care experience.
In general, we will evaluate the following:
- Visual Acuity: This testing assesses for nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism. The results of these tests help us determine if your kid needs eyeglasses or contact lenses.
- Visual Skills: Accommodation, Binocular Vision, Peripheral Vision, Color Vision, Tracking, Hand-eye Coordination
- Eye Health: Our eye doctor will inspect the area around the eye and inside the eye. If necessary, we will apply dilating eye drops to examine the retina and optic nerve. If your child has any pediatric risk factors, such as family history of ocular disease, premature birth, medications, systemic disease, or previous eye injury, it is important that you share this information with us!
Sharp sight is necessary for sharp learning! Our Wylie optometrist strives to optimize children’s vision so they can maximize their full potential.
Call VisionArts Eyecare Center on 573-818-2111 in Fulton, MO to schedule an eye exam with our optometrist.
FOLLOW US