In general, starting kindergarten (or about age 5) is an ideal time to have your child’s eyes checked by a professional. They are old enough to sit still so the doctor can check them and if they do have any vision problems, you want to find out before they start school. In my opinion, the most critical time to find and treat most common children’s eye problems is between ages 5 and 8. If there is a lazy eye (amblyopia), it can be found and treated more effectively before age 8.

There are exceptions to this age 5 rule. If you observe a crossed eye on your child or squinting by your child (on an ongoing basis) that lasts more than a week or so, you should have them see an eye doctor, no matter what age they are.

I was a child that needed glasses beginning at age 8 and what a difference that made in my life. Instead of a blur of green, I saw individual leaves on trees for the first time! Getting glasses not only improved my vision, but increased my confidence in and appreciation for the world around me. This is what motivated me to become a Doctor of Optometry, I wanted to help children see better and hopefully change their life. This is still today one of my favorite things about my profession, working with children and their vision problems.

Scott D. Peterson, OD