ACING YOUR KID'S EYE EXAM
It may be challenging to know if your child is struggling with vision issues. Maybe their teacher gave you a hint or maybe you see them squinting doing homework, but for most, there’s really no sign that they need help. Some of the issues are not on the surface. They are more functional, developmental, or health problems that could be building up within the eyes that can later turn into more serious problems if left unattended. Most kids are also unable to tell you if they are seeing blurry, because without an eye exam, they aren’t even sure what clear vision actually is. So how do you know?
WHEN TO GET YOUR KID’S EYES CHECKED
At Spectacle, we recommend 1st eye exams in the first year of life, any time after 6 months of age. We want to start them off on the right foot, catch any eye problems from the get go, and make sure those eyes are right on track with development. From there, we want to see your child’s eyes every year. This will take the guessing game out of the equation for you, and we’re able to ensure that their eyes are healthy and seeing clearly. If there are any vision issues, we will be able to get glasses early to make an impact to improve development and their work in school. For some cases, we just want to watch and see how their eyes develop before we rush into glasses. Either way, it’s best to get your annual exam to ensure a healthy and happy kiddo!
WHAT TYPE OF GLASSES SHOULD THEY GET
So they did great at their eye exam, and your optometrist mentioned it would be beneficial to start glasses. Where do you begin? At Spectacle, our doctors will explain all their recommendations at your exam particular to your child and their needs. Typically, glasses can be used either for distance only, reading only, or for all the time at school. With technology making a huge impact in the classroom, no matter how you should be wearing your glasses, we recommend an anti-glare lens with blue blocker coating to all children. The glare from screens can cause squinting and tire out the eyes. All screens also emit a blue light that can cause headaches, fatigue, droopy eyelids, and more. Considering these aspects of school have become the norm, we feel anti-glare coatings with blue blocker significantly decrease these symptoms and should be put on lenses for all kids. Want to know more about blue light and screen damage to our eyes? Be sure to check out our Relief From Screens blog post here.
Once you have the lenses figured out with the doctor, next is the fun part.. picking out frames! We have an excellent selection of trendy kid’s glasses, but our favorite brand is Jonas Paul Eyewear featured here. We know your child will only wear their glasses if they like them, so we highly recommend seeing what your little one gravitates toward first. We’ll make sure they are the right size to allow for some growing room too.
From there, you’re off to a better seeing world for your kiddo! By bringing them in for their annual eye exam, you can help them to ace this vision thing and keep their eyes as healthy as can be as they grow. We would be happy to help you and your kids to see their very best, and look forward to seeing you soon!
