How a child’s eye develop and when they need their first eye exam
As children grow and develop, their eyes are going through many changes. It is essential that parents understand these developmental milestones in order to be able to recognize when something is not quite right. In this blog post, we will discuss how a child's eye develops and when they should have their first
eye exam
.
Early Development of the Eye
From birth to approximately 18 months old, a baby’s vision develops rapidly. By the time they reach six months old, babies should be able to follow objects with their eyes from side to side and also focus on nearby shapes and colors. As well as developing visual acuity, babies at this age are also building a framework for hand-eye coordination and movement of their eyes together (binocular vision).
By 12 months of age, most babies should be able to identify items by name. By the time they are two or three years old, children can easily make out details in distant objects and accurately identify colors, shapes and even people from across a room.
First Eye Exam
It is recommended that all children get their first eye exam at the age of three years old. This scan is usually done by an optometrist who specializes in pediatric eye care. During this initial visit, the doctor will check your child’s vision acuity (distance vision), observe any signs of nearsightedness or farsightedness as well as assess ocular health (the stability of blood vessels or presence/absence of refractive errors).
If any abnormalities or irregularities are spotted during the examination, your optometrist might recommend further tests or tracking over subsequent visits. It is important to remember that good vision starts with healthy eyes! Regular checkups can help detect any possible early warning signs such as lazy eye (amblyopia) before it becomes more severe.
A child's eyes undergo rapid development from birth up until the age of 3 years - which explains why it’s so important for kids to get regular eye exams during this time period! Even if there don't appear to be any issues with a child's sight, it’s still important to keep up with checkups -- just in case something was missed during earlier examinations or there are underlying issues that need addressing. To learn more about pediatric optometry services offered at Wally's Optical contact us today !