When should children get an eye examination?

#keniaeye #child eye exam

Early detection of eye problems is important in children as appropriate treatment can be initiated to treat and curtail the problem .

High risk pregnancy birth , premature newborn babies need eye examination within first month of birth so that retinopathy of prematurity can be detected and treated this averting a potentially blinding disease .

First eye exam should be done at six months to one year to check the ability of the child to fixate on objects , check for gross abnormalities like retinoblastoma (retina tumor), congenital retinal problems and squints ( mid aligned eyes ) .

So the first eye check should be done within the first year.

Next eye exam is done before three years of age ( pre school age ) where screening is done by pictorial vision charts like lea symbols to detect lazy eyes , gross spectacle errors, and squint (misalignment of eyes ).

The first complete comprehensive eye check of the child is done at five years of age just before entering primary school . This is extensive detailed check up to pick up any small spec numbers and any other minor or major eye problem .

Children ‘s eye check up should be done at

1–3–5 years of age .

Every two years subsequently the children should get their eyes checked . But if they have any eye problems then 6 months to one years their eyes should be checked .

The idea of early check up is to diagnose eye diseases early and treat them early before they become more complex to treat .