Pediatric Eye Care for Growing Eyes

Roughly 80 percent of what children learn in school is presented visually — reading the board, copying from a screen, picking up on cues in the classroom. When a child can't see clearly, learning, participation and confidence all take a hit. And children rarely speak up: for many, the world has always been a little blurry, so they assume that's normal.

About 20 percent of children have a vision problem that glasses can correct, and 5 to 10 percent of preschoolers and 25 percent of school-aged children have some form of vision problem. Some conditions, like amblyopia (lazy eye), are far easier to treat when caught before age seven; left untreated, the vision loss can become permanent.

The American Optometric Association recommends a first eye exam at about 6 months of age, another at age 3, and one more before starting school. After that, annual exams keep pace with rapidly changing eyes through the school years. Children with existing vision problems or risk factors should be seen more often, as recommended by their optometrist. Risk factors include:

A school screening mostly checks how well a child sees at a distance. That misses a lot. Farsighted children can read the board but strain to read a page; children with focusing or eye-teaming problems see letters clearly yet lose their place, skip lines or get headaches after homework. Our comprehensive pediatric exam evaluates:

Kids show vision problems more than they describe them. What looks like a behavior issue, inattention or a lack of motivation is sometimes a child working too hard to see. Watch for:

Our optical carries durable, comfortable, stylish frames designed for children's faces, and fit matters as much as style. Frames should not be too big or too small — they shouldn't rest on the cheekbone or rise above the eyebrow, and they shouldn't be wider than the face. Small enough to forget about, but large enough to see easily in every direction. We adjust each pair so the center of the lenses lines up with the center of your child's pupils; even small fitting errors reduce how well the correction works, so never buy oversized glasses to grow into.

Look for a padded or gel nose bridge that avoids pressure points, temples that fit without pinching or slipping, and spring hinges for durability. Titanium frames are light and strong; polycarbonate lenses are impact-resistant and protect the eyes. For young athletes, sports glasses with hingeless plastic frames, shatterproof lenses, non-slip nose pads and a head strap keep eyewear in place — and since sports-related eye injuries are common in children and mostly preventable, they're worth it. Let your child help choose; kids who pick their own frames wear them.

Children's eyes are still developing, which makes UV protection especially important. We carry kids' sunglasses, including polarized lenses that cut glare, and can add photochromic lenses that darken outdoors to your child's everyday glasses or make prescription sunglasses.

Our Old Forge office on North Main Street and our Clarks Summit office in the Abington Shopping Center both welcome children, with a warm environment that puts kids at ease and clear communication so you know exactly what's going on. If your child is nearsighted, ask about our myopia management program, which slows progression during the growing years. Families throughout Scranton and Northeastern Pennsylvania schedule with us for back-to-school season and year-round care.