Children’s Eye Doctor: Here’s Why Your Child Should Visit One
Does your child complain about headaches? Is your child constantly rubbing his or her eyes? Have you noticed your child squinting? All these are telltale signs that your child could have a visual problem. This means that a visit to our children’s eye doctor in Scarborough, ON, is long overdue.
Most people wait for eye issues to get out of hand before making their way to see a Scarborough optometrist. However, this shouldn’t be the case. Visiting an eye doctor should be done before you even notice any possible signs of eye problems in your child. Erring on the side of caution will always help you protect your child’s eyes.
Your child’s eye health is of paramount importance if you want them to live a healthy and productive life. For this reason, seeing our Scarborough optometrist should be prioritized as an essential health care need for your child.
Who Are Optometrists and What Do They Do?
Most probably, you have heard of the term optometrist. Most people don’t know the difference between an optician, optometrist, and ophthalmologist. At times, people wrongly use these terms interchangeably. However, these are three different eye specialists.
In a nutshell, an ophthalmologist deals with medical and surgical eye care. An optician isn’t an eye doctor; hence cannot give eye exams. However, they can dispense eyeglasses and contact lenses from a valid prescription.
On the other hand, an optometrist is trained to cater to your primary eye health. In other words, you can expect an optometrist to do the following:
- Prescribe and fit contact lenses and eyeglasses
- Perform vision tests and eye exams
- Provide vision therapy and low-vision aids
- Manage and treat conditions such as glaucoma and dry eye
- Monitor diseases that are connected to your eye health, such as high blood pressure and diabetes
In Scarborough, our optometrists near you, work hand in hand with our opticians to give you the care you need.
Why Is It Important to Take Your Child to See an Optometrist?
Eye exams are essential, especially for a developing child. Thereis a myriad of eye issues that can be rectified if they are caught early. If these issues are left unchecked, they could interfere with your child’s school performance and even safety.
Early eye exams are essential since your child may need to possess the following visual skills that are critical for learning:
- Accurate eye movement skills
- Comfortable and accurate focusing skills
- Good visual acuity at all distances
When Is the Right Time to Have Your Child’s Eyes Examined?
We recommend bringing your child in for his or her first comprehensive eye exam six to nine months after birth. This will allow our kids’ eye doctor to start monitoring your child’s eye health. Then, at around three years, bring them back for another examination. You should also bring them in for another checkup before they start school at the age of five or six. If your child is already going to school, it is wise to visit our eye doctor every year to monitor any changes.
What Signs Indicate That Your Child Might Have Eye Problems?
Here are some signs that you need to look out for since they may indicate that your child has an eye problem:
- They cannot see things far away or close up
- They complain of not seeing clearly (blurry vision)
- Their eyes cross with each other
- They close one eye
- They constantly complain about headaches
- They have one eye that doesn’t focus
- They have an eye that wanders, turns in, up, or out
- They constantly rub their eyes
If you notice any of the above symptoms, don’t hesitate to call our eye doctor. Getting a checkup can help our optometrist find the vision issue and correct it before it permanently affects your child’s eyesight. It’s always critical to peel your eyes for any of the above signs.
If you have any eye-related questions or issues, contact our eye doctor in Scarborough, ON, at Dr. Allyson Tang Optometrist to schedule an appointment.