Pediatric
Eye Exams

Pediatric Eye Exams at EyeQ Family Optical 

Clear and healthy vision is essential for a child’s physical development, academic success, and overall well-being. At our eye care center in Spokane Valley, we offer children’s eye exams to check the accuracy of your child’s vision, diagnose any eye conditions, and provide a plan of treatment to ensure they experience the best vision possible! 

When should children have their first eye exam?   

Children should have their first comprehensive eye exam at six months, then again at three years old, and once more before they enter kindergarten.   

Once a child is in school, they should have a comprehensive eye exam at least once every two years if no vision correction is needed. If a child has been prescribed eyeglasses or contact lenses, then they should be examined on an annual basis or as recommended by the optometrist.   

The eye exam methods we use depend on the age of the child, but in all cases, the comprehensive eye exam for a child will include learning about their history, testing their vision, determining whether eyeglasses are needed, testing the alignment of their eyes, conducting an eye health evaluation, and if needed, prescribing eyeglasses.   

How does a kids’ eye exam differ from a school vision screening? 

A vision screening a school or pediatrician provides is not the same as a comprehensive eye exam. Vision screenings do not diagnose eye or vision problems. They are designed to assess whether a child needs further testing.   

What are some common vision problems in children?   

Common vision problems in children include the following:  

• Myopia: also known as “nearsighted,” which means they can see objects well up close but have problems seeing things in the distance, like a blackboard.
• Hyperopia: also known as “farsighted,” which means they can see objects well in the distance, such as a blackboard, but have problems seeing objects up close.
• Astigmatism: a vision condition that causes fuzzy, blurry vision.  
• Amblyopia (also known as “lazy eye”) is best treated while the child is still young, and their visual system is in development.   
• Strabismus: otherwise known as “crossed eyes or misalignment of the eyes.”
• Focusing problems, poor depth perception, and color blindness.   
• Eye health problems.   
• Convergence insufficiency: an inability to maintain eye alignment when looking at objects.

What are warning signs of potential vision problems in children?   

Children may not be able to tell you they have vision problems, so it’s important to be aware of the warning signs that may indicate they have vision problems. Some early indicators of vision problems in children include the following behaviors:   

• Frequent rubbing or blinking of the eyes  
• Short attention span or daydreaming  
• Poor reading skills   
• Avoiding up-close work  
• Frequent headaches   
• Covering one eye  
• Tilting the head when reading  
• Squinting one or both eyes  
• Placing their head close to the book or the desk when reading or writing  
• Poor eye-hand coordination  

Why are eye exams important for children?   

It’s essential for children to have their eyes examined to ensure they are healthy and that they don’t have any vision problems that may interfere with their performance in school. Eye exams for children also assess whether they have the necessary visual skills required for learning:   

• Excellent vision for near, up-close work and for distance.   
• Comfortable and correct “eye teaming,” which means the eyes work well together and can focus on the same place in space.   
• Excellent ability to switch the focus from an object up close to an object in the distance.   
• Accurate eye movement skills, such as the ability to read a line of text.   

Schedule an Appointment for a Pediatric Eye Exam  

At EyeQ Family Optical, we provide eye health and vision care for all members of the family, including children. We welcome the opportunity to provide care for your child. Call 509-922-0633 to schedule an appointment for a pediatric eye exam.