Children's Eye Exams at Urbandale Eye Care in Urbandale, Iowa

by Erin Huiatt

Children’s Eye Exams at Urbandale Eye Care

School is back in session! As you were preparing for the first day of school, I am sure you had an entire list of things to do and buy before you sent your little one back. Some of those items may have included school physicals, dental exams, back-to-school shopping, activity sign-up, and more. What about eye exams?

When I was younger (we do not need to give years) I remember doing a simple eye check at my pediatrician’s office but never going in for an extensive children’s eye exam. While exams with your pediatrician or family doctor are okay, only optometrists and ophthalmologists have the advanced training and tools to perform and diagnose during an eye exam. The first time I went to an official eye doctor was in my tween years when I needed glasses.

The importance of children's eye exams at Urbandale Eye Care.

I have quickly learned that children’s eye exams as early as 6 months are extremely beneficial. My children received their first children’s eye exam (ages 5 and 7 years) a few weeks ago at Urbandale Eye Care. I walked away with so much knowledge regarding children’s eye care.

Why do a children’s eye exam?

Children’s eye exams are extremely beneficial because most of the time our children cannot communicate certain symptoms they may be having with us. For example, they may be squinting a little due to astigmatism, but they are so used to doing it and their eyes have adapted, we would never know until they received a proper children’s eye exam.
Having a proper vision is vital for learning. Our children are consuming so much information while they are in school. If their vision is not optimal, it can quickly affect how they are doing in school.
A children’s eye exam helps create a baseline for your child’s vision. Having a baseline of what your child’s vision is now is important. If something comes up 5-6 years from now, you know whether it is something concerning or maybe something they have always had.

How are children’s eye exams performed?

How do you test the vision of a 6-month-old? To be totally honest, I was not sure how they were going to test the vision of my daughter. She just turned 5 and is not 100% on her letters. Spoiler alert! It is not all about the reading of the sign.

Depending on the age of your child they perform different tests to evaluate pupil responses, fixate and following, symbols, retinoscopy, and more. My children’s favorite test was Random dot stereopsis testing because they were able to wear fun glasses. You wear special glasses while looking in the book filled with random dots and special patterns. This test helps measure how well their eyes are working together. I tried it and it was pretty cool!

Eye dilating

Dilating of the eyes to have optometrists and ophthalmologists examine, is the most thorough way to get a good look at the eye. Although my children’s eye exams checked out pretty normal without dilating, I still wanted to be 100% sure. This was their first eye exam and I wanted the most comprehensive baseline of their vision and eyes. Eye dilating does not have to happen each time you go in. Only when a problem may arise and the doctor wants to get a better look.

Both kids handled it super well and were not phased by it at all. My daughter even had the chance to play with an eye doctor Barbie while her drops set in. Win!

Urbandale Eye Care

If you are in the Des Moines area, I highly recommend scheduling your appointment at Urbandale Eye Care. My children’s eye exams were with Dr. Kyler and she was phenomenal. She was extremely patient, and answered all of my questions, and all of my children’s crazy questions.