Pediatric / Strabismus Center

Did you know that children should have their eyes examined by the age of three? Good vision develops early in life and an eye that is not used normally in infancy does not develop good vision. Early detection and treatment by an ophthalmologist can prevent such vision loss. Vision problems, eye injuries and eyes that wander are all common childhood eye problems. Watching for warning signs and regular visits to the doctor can help protect your child's sight.

Signs that Yor Child May Need an Eye Exam:

• Holding a book too close to their eyes.
• Difficulty reading the blackboard in school.
• Complaints of blurry eyesight.
• Squinting a lot.
• Closing or covering one eye in order to see.

Your Child's Eye Examination at Texas Eye Institute

Visual acuity tests measure the smallest object each eye can see at a certain distance. Normally, each eye will be done individually by covering one eye at a time. It may be necessary to tape a patch over a child's eye to keep him from peeking. The use of the Snellen chart is the most common way to test visual acuity. This chart letters and numbers that decrease in size. When taking the test, the distance between the patient and the chart is 20 feet.

20/20 vision is normal. If a person has 20/40 vision, they see at twenty feet what a normal eye sees at forty feet. If a person has 20/200 vision, they are legally blind. They only see at twenty feet what a normal eye sees at two hundred feet. If they have 20/15 vision, they see better than normal. They see at twenty feet what the normal eye would have to bring in to fifteen feet to see.

For children that do not know letters and numbers, they can be tested with the Tumbling E chart. To take this test, the child points his/her finger in the same direction as the E is pointing. Children who are younger than four may have trouble with this test so there are several different test used to obtain a child's accurate visual acuity.Comprehensive Eye Exams

Comprehensive Children's Eye Exams Include the Following:

• Review of family and personal health history.
• Examination of the interior and exterior of the eye for signs of eye disease or general health problems.
• Tests of ability to see sharply and clearly at both close and far distances.
• Tests to determine the presence of nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, depth perception problems.
• Check of eye coordination and eye muscle function to make sure the eyes are working together as a team.
• Test of ability to change focus easily from near to far, and vice versa.
• Check for indications of crossed eyes
• Check to ensure the child is using both eyes
• Tests to check eye-hand-foot coordination
• Tests to determine how well the child's vision skills are developing
• Tests to determine normal color vision
   

Strabismus (Wandering Eye)