Pediatric Eye Care
Support your child’s highest potential.
Healthy vision is one of the most important components of your child’s wellness.
Vision develops rapidly starting at birth and is tied to many developmental milestones, such as hand-eye coordination and reading. In the long term, your child’s vision will impact how they learn, play, and interact with the world.
While there may be some obvious signs of visual disorders, many vision problems can only be detected by a qualified eye doctor during a comprehensive eye exam.
Schedule an appointment at Crystal Vision Center, and give your child the gift of clear vision.
Is your child having trouble seeing?
It is not always easy to spot vision problems in kids.
Some symptoms are more obvious, like squinting or holding reading materials very close. But often the early signs are subtle and can even be misdiagnosed.
Your child may be experiencing a vision problem if he or she does any of the following:
- Avoids reading and close-up work like coloring or doing puzzles
- Seems to work slow or not understand the task
- Complains of fatigue or headaches
- Has a short attention span or seems distracted
- Covers one eye or tilts head when focusing on something
- Shows sensitivity to light
- Exhibits difficulty with coordination
“Our 5- and 3-year-olds who both have mildly impaired vision have seen Dr. Mays for the past few years. Every time we come in for an exam, Dr. Mays and his staff take great care of us and demonstrate patience and kindness with our wiggly, impatient kiddos. I’d even say our boys enjoy their appointments–even our youngest who is a little shy! Every time they need new glasses, the team helps us pick the right frames and lenses for our boys’ specific needs at a reasonable price. They’ve also been a great help and are efficient when we’ve needed repairs or replacements. As a parent, I strongly recommend Crystal Vision Center and Dr. Mays for kids and adults alike.”
Common eye disorders in children
Vision can be affected by many things, including the shape of the eyeball, how the eyes and brain work together, and by other diseases or medical conditions. The good news is that many eye disorders can be successfully identified and treated.
The most common eye disorders are caused by the shape and alignment of the eyes, including:
Strabismus is when the eyes do not align properly. This is often referred to as “crossed eyes.”
Amblyopia is poor vision in one eye, and is sometimes referred to as “lazy eye.” It usually occurs before the age of eight. Infants born prematurely or with low birth weight are at greater risk.
Refractive errors cause blurry images due to the shape of the eyeball or lens. These common conditions are easily treated with glasses or contact lenses. There are three types of refractive errors:
- Myopia or nearsightedness is good close vision but poor distance vision.
- Hyperopia or farsightedness is poor up-close vision. Distant objects can easily be seen.
- Astigmatism is imperfect vision at any distance.
Eye exam schedule for kids
Routine eye exams are a crucial part of your child’s well being and readiness for learning. Many parents do not know that school screenings are not the same as eye exams. Even with 20/20 vision, your child can still have problems that only an eye doctor can detect.
“I brought my 5 year old for a second opinion and I had the best experience! I feel so much better about her eye treatment plan than I did with her original optometrist! They are GREAT with kids who are more on the uncooperative side. They are also great with taking the time to hear your concerns and answer any questions you have.”
Newborns have their eyes checked before leaving the hospital. And leading medical organizations recommend comprehensive eye exams for health, vision development, and alignment at these ages:
- Between 6 and 12 months
- 3 years of age
- Every other year throughout the school years
Support your child’s highest potential — schedule an appointment at Crystal Vision Center today.