We examine patients of all ages, and enjoy taking care of your child’s eyes. The exam process for children is a bit different than for an adult.
1. The first part of the examination if the pre-testing portion. This part of the examination will include asking mom, dad, or caregiver questions about the physical and ocular health of the child. We will also perform a few tests that will give the doctor vital information to review that will help him determine how healthy the eyes are.
2. The second portion of the examination is the health portion. In this part of the exam, the doctor will examine the structures of the eye for eye diseases, including hereditary retinal diseases, cataracts, and other conditions that can limit vision for the child. We will likely dilate the child’s eyes so our doctor can check the internal retina fully. Retinal photos will also be taken and reviewed with the parent or caregiver. The retinal photos are really an easy way to review the retinal health of the child as they are not traumatic to the child and allow a steady, clear picture to be displayed for review by the doctor.
3. Lastly, the doctor will check the refractive error of the child as well as the balance of the eye muscles, to make sure conditions such as amblyopia (lazy eye), far sightedness, near sightedness, and astigmatism do not exist, and if they do, determine a plan to correct them. We often use a cartoon automated chart so the child can have fun while they have an exam.
