Baby’s First Eye Exam

Yes we can examine your baby’s eyes! Even if you don’t have any concerns about their vision, just like routine trips to the doctor and dentist, an annual trip to the eye doctor will set your child up for a lifetime of vision success!

When should babies get their first eye exam?

Between 6-12 months old! According to the American Optometric Association, an expert assessment of a child’s eyes should be performed:

• Once at 6-12 months.

• Once at 3-5 years.

• Once before first grade.

A baby’s eyes and visual system is almost completely fully developed at birth! But when your little bundle of joy comes into the world, that’s when your baby starts learning to see.

During the first months, he or she begins to learn to move the eyes in all directions, in towards the face and then out to things far away. Focusing begins to improve in speed and accuracy, and depth perception gets better and better. It’s a common misconception that babies do not see in color, they certainly do see colors, they just don’t know how to tell them apart at first! The world gets more and more vivid as each shade is learned by the visual system and things get clearer and clearer!

A comprehensive eye examination is the best way to ensure that there are no vision issues which can result in learning or development problems in the future.

What can you check on a baby?

The tests performed during an infant eye exam may look a little different than an adult eye exam, but important visual functions are all thoroughly assessed.

Common conditions screened for include significant focusing problems (nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism), eye turns (strabismus), tear duct blockages, and other eye health concerns.

Will my baby need glasses?

It is very rarely that infants require glasses. We will of course be able to prescribe lenses if your baby needs them. Our goal with the infant eye exam is to determine if baby’s vision is developing appropriately and if there are any risks for future vision concerns.

Getting ready for your infant’s eye exam:

If your child has a consistent naptime, we generally recommend bringing her/him in when they are likely to be alert (though we know this can be unpredictable!). Bring toys, snacks, or bottles to keep your child entertained during the exam, and we will take care of the rest!

Are you looking for a pediatric optometrist in the Kent, Auburn, Renton, Covington, Maple Valley, Enumclaw, or Black Diamond area?

Get ahead of any problems before they start! Schedule an eye exam today!