Your child’s vision is important, so it’s also important to make sure that their eyes remain healthy.  Find out what to expect from these routine exams so you and your child are prepared for your upcoming visit at Carolina Kids Pediatrics in Raleigh.

Q. When should my child get their first vision screening?

A. The American Academy Of Pediatrics recommends eye examinations starting in the newborn nursery to detect early problems such as cataracts, retinoblastoma (an eye tumor), or amblyopia ("lazy eye").  Your Raleigh children’s doctor will continue to screen for eye problems at routine checkups, and begin formal vision screening at your child's 3 year checkup. We will continue to screen your child's vision at every checkup, and begin to introduce stereoacuity testing (testing for normal depth perception) at 5 years.

Q. What are the goals of vision screening?

A. Although vision screening can detect many eye problems early, we would refer you to a pediatric ophthalmologist for comprehensive evaluation if we detect a significant issue. Please feel free to give us a call if you need a recommendation for a pediatric ophthalmologist in your area.

Q. What are some warning signs that could indicate vision problems?

A. There are many warning signs that could indicate that your child is having issues seeing including:

• Rubbing eyes a lot
• Squinting while watching TV or reading
• Holding a book closer than normal to read
• Eyes look crossed 
• Light sensitivity
• Eye redness or pain

These are only some of the problems to look for. If your child displays any of these symptoms, it’s time to give us a call.

Do you have questions about your child’s upcoming appointment or vision screening? Then turn to our Raleigh, NC pediatric doctors at Carolina Kids Pediatrics today!