Children’s Eye Exams | Daniel Island Eye Care

Vision for the Next Generation

Children grow up fast. Every day, they learn and change—and that includes their eyes. Vision and eye development change a lot in early childhood. From hand-eye coordination to reading skills, so much is dependent on your child’s eye health.

While a general health checkup by a family doctor or pediatrician is good for your child’s overall health, booking a children’s eye exam can tell you more about your child’s eye health.

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When To Book An Eye Exam for Your Child

After the first thorough eye exam, it’s important to schedule periodic exams to protect your children’s vision and eye development.

Preschool: Age 3
First Grade: Age 5–6
School-age: Every 2 years

Although many children do well with eye exams every 2 years, it can help to have a yearly ocular exam. Vision can change frequently during childhood, and many problems can go unnoticed or untreated.

By scheduling back-to-school eye exams annually, you never lose sight of your child’s eye health.

Eye Development in Infants

During the first 12 months, infants are learning how to use their vision. In the early days, their eyes are sensitive to light, preferring the ease of big, bright objects in close range. As their eyes develop, they learn how to use both eyes in tandem, which can be challenging.

Children’s eyes are discovering all the ups and downs of vision, from judging distance to recognizing a smile. The American Association of Optometry recommends scheduling a child’s first eye exam at 6 months.

If your child has a family history or symptoms of ocular conditions, visiting an optometrist earlier can help answer your eye care questions. An eye care professional can diagnose the difference between misaligned eyes they’ll grow out of (pseudostrabismus) or strabismus (crossed eyes).

Understanding your child’s eye development can help you prepare for their future and protect their ocular health.

InfantSEE

Daniel Island Eye Care is proud to be enrolled as an InfantSEE® provider. The public health program is managed by Optometry Cares – The AOA Foundation. Thanks to its mission to support access to eye health, practices like Daniel Island Eye Care can offer a no-cost one-time service for infants.

Visiting an eye care professional is important for the early detection of vision and eye health problems.

Book an appointment to ask our staff about InfantSEE.

When To Book An Eye Exam

After the first thorough eye exam, it’s important to schedule periodic exams to protect your children’s vision and eye development.

Preschool: Age 3
First Grade: Age 5–6
School-age: Every 2 years

Although many children do well with eye exams every 2 years, it can help to have a yearly ocular exam. Vision can change frequently during childhood, and many problems can go unnoticed or untreated.

By scheduling back-to-school eye exams annually, you never lose sight of your child’s eye health.

Book Appointment

What To Expect During a Child’s Eye Exam

Every children’s eye exam will check:

Visual acuity
Eye teaming (eye coordination)
Eye movement skills
Tracking skills
Eye focusing
Color vision
Ocular health

Additional tests will depend on the child’s age, family history, and the results of previous eye exams.

Preparing for a First Eye Exam

A child’s first eye exam can be an exciting experience. We want your child to feel comfortable and preparing them ahead of time is an important part of that.

We take your child’s eye health seriously, but we can make each visit fun. From vision-testing games to cool eye care gadgets, there’s a lot for children to like.

Before your child’s eye appointment, make sure they’re fed and rested. Feeling awake and ready can help make the experience easier.

Make Eye Care A Family Affair on Daniel Island

We know children love questions, and we love answers! We encourage you and your children to ask anything about vision and eye health.

Book an appointment with Daniel Island Eye Care for a children’s eye exam.

Our Location

Located between Charleston and Mount Pleasant, SC, you can find us at the corner of Daniel Island Drive and Seven Farms Drive, next to Orlando’s Pizza. We have parking in front and a large lot behind our building.