Comprehensive Children’s Eye Exams at Lombard Verster & Pheiffer

At Lombard Verster & Pheiffer Optometrists, we are committed to ensuring your child’s vision and eye health are developing optimally. From infants to school-aged children, our thorough eye exams identify potential vision problems early, helping your child succeed academically and stay safe.

 

Why Children’s Eye Exams Are Important

Children’s eye exams are essential because even mild vision problems can interfere with learning, sports, and daily life. Only trained optometrists or ophthalmologists have the expertise and tools to assess a child’s visual health properly.

Key skills assessed during exams include:

  • Visual acuity at all distances

  • Eye teaming and coordination

  • Eye movement and tracking skills

  • Depth perception and color vision

Early detection ensures issues such as lazy eye (amblyopia), strabismus (misaligned eyes), and convergence insufficiency are treated while the child’s visual system is still developing.

 

When Should Your Child Have an Eye Exam?

  • Infants: First exam at 6 months

  • Toddlers: At age 3

  • Pre-school/Grade 1: Just before starting school (around 5–6 years old)

  • School-aged children: At least every two years if no vision correction is needed

  • Children who wear glasses or contact lenses: Annually or as recommended

Inform your optometrist if your child has any of the following:

  • History of prematurity or delayed development

  • Frequent eye rubbing or blinking

  • Difficulty maintaining eye contact

  • Failed vision screening at school or clinic

  • Family history of eye diseases, refractive errors, strabismus, or amblyopia

 

Eye Exams for Infants

By 6 months, infants should have adult-like vision in focusing, color perception, and depth perception. Eye tests for infants may include:

  • Pupillary Response Test: Checks if the pupil reacts to light correctly

  • Fixate and Follow: Determines whether infants can fix their gaze on an object and track it as it moves

  • Preferential Gaze: Uses cards with stripes to evaluate vision without using a standard eye chart

 

Eye Exams for Preschoolers

Preschool children do not need to know letters to complete vision tests. Common tests include:

  • LEA Symbols: Uses symbols like apples, houses, squares, and circles instead of letters

  • Retinoscopy: Shines light into the eye to detect refractive errors or congenital cataracts

  • Random Dot Stereopsis: Measures how well the eyes work together in 3D vision

 

Common Vision Problems in Children

  • Lazy Eye (Amblyopia): Reduced vision in one or both eyes, may require patching

  • Misalignment of Eyes (Strabismus): Crossed or misaligned eyes affecting vision development

  • Convergence Insufficiency: Difficulty maintaining eye alignment for near vision

  • Focusing Issues, Poor Depth Perception, Color Blindness

  • Eye Health Problems: Swelling, discharge, or cloudiness in cornea, iris, or lens

 

Signs Your Child May Need Glasses

  • Squinting or tilting the head

  • Sitting too close to screens or books

  • Excessive eye rubbing

  • Complaints of headaches or eye pain

  • Difficulty concentrating on schoolwork

Early identification and correction are crucial for healthy visual development and academic success.

 

Book Your Child’s Eye Exam Today

Ensure your child has the visual skills they need to thrive. Contact us to schedule a comprehensive eye exam for your child