Eye health resource
How Often Should a Child Get an Eye Exam?
Learn the current pediatric eye exam schedule, when a child may need more frequent care, how screenings differ from comprehensive exams, and when myopia follow-up may be needed.
Reviewed for accuracy by Justin Bazan, OD on .
For children who are asymptomatic and considered low risk, the American Optometric Association recommends a comprehensive eye assessment at 6 to 12 months, at least one exam between ages 3 and 5, and an exam before first grade with annual exams thereafter.
That schedule is a starting point, not a substitute for individual judgment. A child with symptoms, a failed screening, progressive myopia, a significant family history, developmental or medical risk factors, or a known eye condition may need to be examined sooner or more often.
Pediatric Eye Exam Schedule
- Birth through age 2: a comprehensive eye assessment between 6 and 12 months.
- Ages 3 through 5: at least one comprehensive eye exam during this period.
- Ages 6 through 17: an exam before first grade and annually thereafter.
Park Slope Eye participates in InfantSEE, and qualifying InfantSEE assessments are available at no charge during the first year of life.
When Might a Child Need More Frequent Exams?
Your eye doctor may recommend a different schedule when a child has:
- a failed school, pediatric-office, or other vision screening;
- blur, squinting, headaches, eye strain, double vision, or difficulty seeing the board;
- a crossed, drifting, or wandering eye;
- progressive nearsightedness (myopia);
- a strong family history of significant childhood eye problems;
- premature birth, developmental concerns, or a medical condition associated with eye risk;
- an eye injury or prior eye surgery; or
- an existing eye or vision condition that needs follow-up.
Is a Vision Screening the Same as a Comprehensive Eye Exam?
No. Vision screenings are valuable because they can efficiently identify some children who may need further evaluation. Schools, pediatric offices, and community programs can all play an important role in catching problems early.
A comprehensive eye exam goes further. Depending on the child's age and needs, it can assess refractive error, eye alignment, eye movements, focusing, binocular function, pupil responses, and eye health. A child can pass a screening and still have a problem that deserves evaluation, especially if symptoms or other risk factors are present.
What Happens During a Child's Eye Exam?
Children do not need to know letters to have a meaningful eye exam. Babies and younger children can be evaluated with objective testing, pictures, symbols, lights, and observation of how the eyes fixate, follow, focus, and work together.
The exact testing varies by age, but a pediatric exam may include:
- medical, birth, developmental, and family history;
- age-appropriate vision measurement;
- measurement of nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism;
- eye-alignment and eye-movement testing;
- evaluation of focusing and binocular vision;
- an eye-health examination; and
- dilation when it is clinically useful.
What If My Child Is Becoming Nearsighted?
Myopia means nearsightedness: distance vision becomes blurry while near vision may still be clear. If the prescription is progressing, simply updating glasses is not the only option.
Park Slope Eye offers myopia-management care that may include Ortho-K, low-dose atropine, or appropriate soft multifocal/myopia-control contact lenses. No treatment can guarantee that myopia will stop, so the plan and follow-up interval are individualized.
When Should You Book Sooner?
Do not wait for the next routine interval if your child has a new eye turn, sudden double vision, a significant eye injury, sudden vision loss, severe eye pain, a white pupil reflex, or another concerning change. Some problems need prompt medical evaluation.
For routine pediatric care, learn more about children's eye exams at Park Slope Eye or book an appointment online.
Originally published . Substantially updated .