Seeing Is Believing

Infants, toddlers, and children rely primarily on their eyes to learn. Healthy eyes and vision are critical for ensuring children develop properly.

Your child’s eyes are constantly changing as they grow. Along the way, vision problems and other eye issues can emerge without you knowing.

Regular eye exams can help detect vision problems before they impact your child’s development. Visit our team for a pediatric eye exam in Fort Myers today!

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Why Children’s Eye Exams Matter

At Fort Myers Eye Associates, our Developmental Optometrist is a specialist in children’s eye exams. Not only do we do comprehensive children’s eye exams, but we also do a developmental vision exam if we detect vision issues. It is important to have your child’s eyes checked regularly beginning at an early age to ensure their vision is developing as it should.

When Should My Child See the Optometrist?

Children’s eyes go through different stages as they develop. Your child’s optometrist will know what to expect and can guide you through any treatments your child may need.

The First Year

Your child’s vision is blurry when they are born and gradually becomes better as they age. Even though their vision is limited in their first year, they should still see an optometrist to ensure their eyes are functioning and developing properly.

We recommend having your child’s eyes checked at 6 months of age. But an exam may be required sooner if you have a family history of childhood eye disease, if your child’s eyes are showing symptoms of eye disease, or if they were born prematurely.

Toddler Years

Between ages 1 to 3, your child’s eyes mature and they learn hand-eye coordination. Eye conditions like amblyopia (lazy eye) and strabismus (crossed eyes) can develop during these years. If left untreated, these conditions can lead to long-term vision problems, which is why seeing an eye doctor is crucial during this period.

Our optometrists want to see your child when they are 3 years old to check their vision and look for early signs of these conditions.

Getting Ready for School

When children reach school age, we want to make sure they are as prepared as possible for success. Vision problems can hold your child back from achieving academic success. If they can’t read or see the whiteboard properly, they might not do as well in school.

We recommend that children have another exam before they begin attending school. This will give us an opportunity to prescribe corrective lenses if needed and get them started on vision therapy or other forms of eye care.

Help your kids avoid unnecessary academic problems by ensuring their vision can reach its fullest potential.

Youth & Teenage Years

The school years are when most vision issues become apparent. Your child looks at the whiteboard at school, begins reading and doing more close work, and participates more in sports.

These are the years that vision can change rapidly. To avoid vision-related academic struggles and your child’s vision prescription rapidly worsening, it’s important to have regular eye exams.

Regular eye exams will help us discover any refractive errors or eye health concerns that need to be addressed in your child.

Common children’s refractive errors include:

Myopia (or nearsightedness), which makes far-away objects look blurry
Hyperopia (farsightedness), which makes nearby objects look blurry
Astigmatism, which can distort and blur objects nearby and far away

Vision Therapy

Vision therapy is an office-based treatment program which works to improve how your child’s eyes work together and how your child interprets visual information.

If you suspect your child could benefit from vision therapy, the first step is to come in for a comprehensive eye exam and discuss your concerns with our optometrists.

Building Blocks for Success

Children have the best tools for success when they are seeing the world properly. Our team can help ensure your child’s vision is developing as it should. If it’s time for your child’s scheduled eye exam, or if you have concerns about any vision issues, come in and see our friendly optometrists.

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See Us For Yourself

Find us on College Parkway between Winkler Road and Premiere Boulevard. We’re located east of the Cape Coral bridge. We serve Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Estero, Lehigh, and surrounding areas.