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Does Your Child Need a Routine Eye Exam?, by Dr. Stathacopoulos (San Luis Obispo Eye Associates)Here at San Luis Obispo Eye Associates we want to help you maintain optimal care of your eyes. Everyone knows that your child needs to see the dentist twice a year, but you may not know how often your child's eyes need to be checked. After all, aren't eyes at least as important as teeth? Fortunately, good preventative eye care is easier, less expensive and less frequent than good dental care. Unfortunately, recommendations regarding pediatric eye care are much more variable than dental care. It depends who you ask and where you look. Below are our recommendations for pediatric routine eye care. Keep in mind that eye problems are best treated when children are very young and the visual system and the part of the brain for vision are still growing. Some eye problems in children become untreatable when children are older. These are the recommendations I give my own patients and family. Children ( 0-14 years old )A complete eye exam is recommended for all children between ages 2 1/2 and 5 years old once they are verbal. If this exam is normal, vision screenings every other year with the school or primary care physician are adequate. If a child fails a screening they should be seen for a complete routine eye exam. If all screenings are normal, children should have another routine eye exam again at about the age of puberty or begin junior high. If there is a family history of eye problems, children should have their first complete eye exam at 6 - 8 months of age. Young Adults/Adults (15-40 years old )A complete eye exam is recommended every 5 years in a person with no eye problems who does not wear glasses. Individuals who wear glasses will need an eye exam one a year. Who Should You See?Pediatric Ophthalmologist - MDPediatric Ophthalmologists have completed fellowship training in pediatric ophthalmology. They perform routine eye exams on children and treat strabismus (crossed eyes), amblyopia, tear duct problems, and care for the special needs children. They are adept at working with children and can make you child's eye exam fun and less stressful. They have a Bachelors Degree (BA or BS), a Medical Degree (MD), and have completed a medical internship, 3 years of ophthalmology residency, and a year of pediatric ophthalmology fellowship. Pediatric Ophthalmologists also see adults with double vision or eye muscle problems. General Ophthalmologist - MDOphthalmologists are licensed to perform routine eye exams, treat medical problems of the eye, and treat surgical problems of the eye in all ages. They have a Bachelors Degree (BA or BS), a Medical Degree (MD), and have completed a medical internship and 3 years of ophthalmology residency, but have not completed specialist training in pediatric ophthalmology. Optometrist - ODOptometrists are licensed to perform routine eye exams, fit contact lenses, and provide limited medical treatment of certain eye problems. Optometrists have a Bachelors Degree (BA or BS) and Doctorate of Optometry (OD), which is a 3 year postgraduate degree. Signs That Your Child May Have a Vision ProblemBelow are some of the signs that may indicate that your child is having vision problems, obviously we can't list every symptom, and you know your child best. If you have concerns about any symptom with regard to vision call an eye doctor or discuss them with your primary care doctor and request a referral.
Where Can I Get More Information?For more information on the following topics, visit our web site www.sloeyeassociates.com
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