kids eye exam

[anniemae]

What age did/do you take your child for their first eye exam? I'm talking about a regular routine screening, not if there is an issue like an eye turn etc.

 

[StitchesGr8Fan]

We will be going at age 2 as recommended by our eye doctor due to family history of eye issues.

 

[worm761]

My pediatrician does a simple one in her office. If there are no issues then we don't go to the eye doctor. But if she finds a problem then we will go to the eye doctor. DH and I both wear glasses so I am pretty sure DD will at some time. I am surprised that DS doesn't need glasses yet at 17 but he passes the eye test every time.

 

[momsully]

Our boys had their first exam at 3. DD had her first at 2.5.

 

[Jaime4004]

The quick pedi test is good enough for us unless a problem is detected... Two of my kids failed, at 8 and 9 so that's when then went to the eye MD and won some glasses!

 

[ORMom2Four]

Our kids don't go unless they fail the school screening.

 

[design_mom]

Our pediatric ophthalmologist recommends that "healthy" children start getting their eyes checked at 3 years old. Earlier if you suspect a problem.

 

[goofy4tink]

Dd's pedi started doing them when dd was about 3! The eye chart was hysterical....a boat, a ball, a tree, etc. she stared wearing glasses shortly after her first screening!

 

[aprilgail2]

I think her first yearly exam was around 3 and she has gone every year since then. The school was saying her eyes were fine in 4th grade, her pediatrician said her eyes were fine yet she couldn't read the smartboard at school, took her to the eye Dr for her yearly and she did indeed need glasses. School also told me she had curvature of the spine so I took her to a specialist and she has no such thing! I hate that the school is even involved in any type of medical testing!

 

[Fjobe]

It's been different for all 3. DS has been going since he was 5 the summer before kindergarten. He did not need glasses at that time. He ended up with them half way through first grade. He wears them for distance (actually contacts now). I've been taking DD1 since she was 2 years old. She started wearing glasses when she was 5. Hers are not strong and are for an astigmatism on an as needed basis. I haven't taken our youngest DD yet. She had an eye screening done with her health screen in September and passed with flying colors. I will probably take her this summer before she starts kindergarten.

I should add that all 3 had eye screens done by our education cooperative when they were 3.

 

[MnMomtoboys]

All kids should go before kindergarten, before if there is family history of glasses.

 

[Sadie22]

They have to do the screenings at school because that's the only time some kids would be tested. Screenings are not a substitute for a thorough, individual examination in a doctor's office as there are many diagnoses that a screening will not find.

 

[Kimberle]

My dd "passed" her school eye exam from the nurse in 4th grade. She came home and told me that even though she passed, she thought she needed glasses. I immediately made her an eye appointment. Sure enough, she needed glasses.

Eye exams check for more than glasses, they check for overall eye health. Basic eye exams for kids aren't that expensive. It's a good idea to take them every year or two even if they don't need glasses.

 

[kacaju]

Since DH and I both got glasses in 4th grade and once we got them we realized we should have gotten them earlier...I took our girls all before they started Kindergarten. Only 1 needs glasses.. but they still go once a year in Aug. before we go back to school.

 

[JVL1018]

They are screened at school and at the ped yearly.

In 3rd grade, my daughter's school nurse said to take her to the eye doctor, she may need glasses.
I took her, and they told me her eyesight wasn't perfect, but she didn't need glasses yet.
In 4th grade, same thing, took her again, that time she did need glasses.
Now she goes regularly (she's in 8th) so she can get her contacts rx updated.

My son, in 6th grade, gets screened at school and the ped and so far, so good.

 

[clh2]

I think her first yearly exam was around 3 and she has gone every year since then. The school was saying her eyes were fine in 4th grade, her pediatrician said her eyes were fine yet she couldn't read the smartboard at school, took her to the eye Dr for her yearly and she did indeed need glasses. School also told me she had curvature of the spine so I took her to a specialist and she has no such thing! I hate that the school is even involved in any type of medical testing!

You hit a nerve. DD's elem school insisted she had a hearing problem. They did a hearing screening when she had an ear infection. She failed the screening, they retested her later in the day... Guess what she failed again. I mentioned it to DD's ped when we'd went in for an ear recheck. Ped asked me if I thought there was a problem, um, no! Ped didn't see any reason for further testing. Now, truth be told, DD definitely still has selective hearing, but then again most kids do!

 

[Conservative Hippie]

I just got my reminder card today that its been about a year since DD's eye exam. Last year was her first one, she was 5. DH has horrible eyesight and has been wearing glasses since he was 7. I'll get DS's first eye exam when he is about 5 as well. We homeschool so I have to stay on top of eyes and hearing myself.

Sent from me.

 

[zoemurr]

Eye exams are about much more than eye sight. This is not something I think should be put off. My DD with eye "issues" had to go every 6 months when she was younger. DS only every 3 years or so since he didn't have problems. (He does have glasses now and will start going more often.)

DD needed surgery twice for a condition I don't think the pedi. would have caught and we weren't aware of. If it wasn't treated she could have lost her sight in one eye.

I certainly wouldn't go by what the school says. DD also was flagged for spine issues 2x and the doctor said she was fine. I'm not sure why they even screen kids. We have to prove that they go to the doctor at least every few years for them to attend school. It just seems like a waste of time.

 

[Lexiesmom]

We took our daughter this year (she is 4, and started JK this year). It was recommended by the schools to have this done. We didn't notice a problem, but low and behold she has an astigmatism and needs classes!

The Dr said if you wait to long (ie past 5 years old) then the window of opportunity to be able to correct this problem, closes.

sooo glad we took her!

 

[kacaju]

I'm not sure why they even screen kids. We have to prove that they go to the doctor at least every few years for them to attend school. It just seems like a waste of time.

There are too many parents who do NOT take their kids to the Dr. unless forced too so I guess it is good that they do screen. One of m DD's did/does have a slight curve to her spine. I refuse (signed the paper) to have the School exam her. I explain she has a slight one and is under Dr.s care..Otherwise I will end up being required to take her to the Dr.