Vision problems affect one in twenty preschoolers and one in four school-aged children.

Since vision problems can begin at an early age, it is very important that children receive proper eye care. Untreated problems can worsen and lead to permanent vision loss and delayed development.

Because it is possible for your child to have a serious vision problem without being aware of it, infants should be screened for common eye problems during their regular pediatric appointments and vision testing should be conducted for all children starting at around 3 years of age for:

• Strabismus (crossed eyes)
• Amblyopia (lazy eye)
• Ptosis (drooping of the upper eyelid)
• Refractive errors (nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism)
• Color Deficiency (color blindness)

If there is a family history of vision problems or if your child appears to have any of the above conditions, speak to your Eye M.D. promptly about when and how often your child's eyes should be examined. Vision problems in children can be serious, but if caught in time and treated early, your child's good vision can be protected.

Your child's toys could present a hidden danger to his or her eyes, so make sure toys and gifts are appropriate for your child's age and maturity level. And avoid toys with sharp, protruding or projectile parts.

Sports also can endanger your child's eyes if he or she does not wear appropriate eye protection. Sports are the leading cause of eye injuries in children. To protect your child, make sure he or she wears appropriate protective eyewear with polycarbonate lenses or shields when playing on the field, in the yard or on the court.

Help to ensure your child's eyes remain healthy and injury free. Have them visit an Eye M.D. regularly and make sure their eyes are protected.

Copyright © 2004 American Academy of Ophthalmology®

Your Eye M.D. (ophthalmologist) recommends the following schedule for pediatric eye examinations.

Screening for eye disease by trained personnel-Eye M.D. (ophthalmologist), pediatrician or trained screener should be conducted at:

• Newborn to 3 months
• 6 months to 1 year
• 3 years (approximately)
• 5 years (approximately)

Some factors may put your child at increased risk for eye disease. If any of these factors apply to your child, check with your Eye M.D. to see how often you should have a medical eye exam:

• Developmental delay
• Premature birth
• Personal or family history of eye disease
• African-American heritage (African-Americans are at increased risk for glaucoma)
• Previous serious eye injury
• Use of certain medications (check with your Eye M.D.)
• Some diseases that affect the whole body (such as diabetes or HIV infection)

© Copyright 2002 American Academy of Ophthalmology