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Protect Your Peepers!

Preschool Eye Exam Basics

Did you know that children between 2 and 5 years of age should have at least one comprehensive eye exam?

It is recommended that preschool children have a comprehensive eye exam around three years of age and another eye exam before they start kindergarten. If your preschooler requires glasses or there is a family history of vision issues, it is recommended that they visit an optometrist annually.

Preschoolers are still fine-tuning their visual skills and it is imperative that any vision issues be caught before they cause long-lasting damage to their vision or impede other areas of development. Eye exams are important at this age because children's development and learning are directly connected to the following skills associated with good eyesight:

near vision
distance vision
binocular (two eyes) coordination
eye movement skills
focusing skills
peripheral awareness
hand-eye coordination

What to Expect During the Exam

Come prepared to share your child's birth history, medical history and family history. Prepare your child beforehand by explaining that the optometrist will be looking at their eyes--never surprise them with a visit, give plenty of warning so they are comfortable having their eyes examined. Choose a time that works best for your child (ex. avoiding naptime or the end of a busy day) to provide the best opportunity for a successful visit.

Common Eye Tests Used for Young Children:

LEA Symbols: an eye chart for young children between 3 and 6 years of age who cannot yet read that uses symbols or shapes (ex. apple, house, square, circle)

Retinoscopy: a test that shines light into the child's eye to observe the reflection from the back of the eye (retina) which helps determine a child's eye glass prescription

Random dot stereopsis: uses special patterns of dots and 3-D glasses to measure how well your child's eyes work together

Tumbling E Chart: all characters on the chart are a capital letter "E," in different spatial orientations (rotated in increments of 90 degrees) and the optometrists will ask the child to use either hand (with their fingers extended) to show which direction the "fingers" of the E are pointing: right, left, up or down

Warning Signs

If your Preschooler is struggling with any of the following symptoms, book a comprehensive eye exam as soon as possible:

red, itchy or watering eyes
sensitivity to light
an eye that consistently turns in or out
tilting their head to see better
squinting, rubbing the eyes, or excessive blinking
a lack of concentration
covering or closing one eye
irritability or short attention span
holding objects too close
avoiding activities that require near vision, such as reading or coloring, or distance vision, such as playing ball or tag
visible frustration or grimacing
complaining of headaches or tired eyes