Being a new parent can be exciting, challenging, and terrifying at the same time. You want to give your child the best so they can have a good future. You want them to have the best of what you can offer. You also want them to grow strong and learn to be independent. You can start on this journey by establishing a solid foundation for their eye health. 
 

Studies say that children learn about 80 percent of everything through their eyesight. This means that their academic, social, and emotional well-being is heavily influenced by how well they can see. To ensure their healthy vision, you must make eye exams a critical aspect of your child's life. Visits to the pediatric eye doctor must be nonnegotiable when protecting your child's future. 

Why Are Eye Exams Important for Your Child?

As mentioned above, your child's development is highly dependent on vision. While it is easy to think that a child's eyes are perfect because they are new, this is a misconception. Vision issues are common among children. 
 

According to surveys, about 25 percent of school-age kids and 10 percent of preschoolers have vision disorders. While a child is growing up, their visual system is doing a lot of growing and changing. 
 

During this time, they should develop critical visual skills that will help them in the future. This time is also their most vulnerable because their ocular development can be interrupted or interfered with. Eye exams allow the eye doctor to ensure that your child's visual system is developing as it should. 

How Often Should Your Child Visit the Pediatric Eye Doctor?

The frequency of visits depends on several factors, including:
 

• Age

• Medical history

• Family history

The first eye exam your child should have is at the age of six months. While this may seem early, it is the ideal time for a first exam. During this exam, the eye doctor will check for common visual functions that develop early. It is from this eye exam that the eye doctor will find out if your child is at high risk, depending on their family and medical history.
 

If your child is not at risk, the following schedule should work for them:
 

• Zero to Six Months

A first comprehensive eye exam with a professional pediatric eye doctor.
 

• Three Years

If the first exam did not show any issues, your child should have their second eye exam at this time. 
 

• Five to Six Years

It is best if your child has their third eye exam right before they join first grade. At this time, issues like myopia begin to develop, which can severely affect their academics.
 

• Six to 18 Years

At this time, a child's eyes make significant development. Their eyes can take a bad turn, like developing a lazy eye. Experts recommend an eye exam every two years, despite healthy vision in the previous exam.
 

For more on how often your child needs a pediatric eye exam, visit NewView Family Eye Care at our office in Waterloo, Iowa. Call (319) 236-2020 to book an appointment today.