Pediatric
Eye Exam

Baby’s First Exam Check

A baby’s first eye exam can be done at 6 months old. At this age, Dr. Arthur Benjamin will check for:

• Congenital cataracts
• Refractive errors such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism
• Eye teaming skills
• Focusing skills

The First Comprehensive Exam

The next eye exam should be conducted between the ages of 3 and 4. At this time a child is able to give more subjective answers to questions which can provide more accurate feedback. Eye charts containing pictures, numbers, or letters are used. Other tests involved include:

• Visual acuity
• Depth perception
• Color vision

Along with these tests, Dr. Benjamin will check for congenital disorders, lazy eye (amblyopia), and strabismus (misalignment of the eyes). Conditions, which are not urgent but require attention, occur when baby’s eyes seem to move incessantly and if they don’t look directly at a person.

Preschool Vision Examination

It is important for children to have an eye exam before starting kindergarten. Poor vision can affect child’s learning process and self esteem. A comprehensive children’s eye exam should entail:

• Eye health
• Visual acuity
• Proper eye alignment
• Muscle function
• Visual acuity

Before the Pediatric Eye Exam

Prior to your child’s eye exam, note down the issues you have observed that may indicate a vision problem. The younger your child is, the more difficult it can be to identify vision problems, but you may have noticed how closely he or she hold books and toys. If your child reads, be alert to skipped words or lines. Inform us if your child tends to squint, or complains about recurring headaches. We will thoroughly examine your child’s eye structure and function to identify the exact problem.

Preparing for Your Child’s Pediatric Eye Exam

Taking your child for an eye exam does not have to be a stressful even. Preparing your child for the eye exam can help reduce the fear and anxiety children experience in new places and new people. Before your appointment, explain what will happen in simple language – and make the experience sound interesting and fun.

Who performs the exam?

Dr. Arthur Benjamin performs all our pediatric eye exams. He is board-certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology with almost two decades of experience. Aside from his depth of knowledge on the full range of eye problems affecting children and adults, Dr. Benjamin is known for his friendly personality and engaging manner in working with children. He is careful to ensure the children he treats are comfortable throughout the eye exam. Children willingly participate and answer his questions, helping him to gain a thorough understanding from the child’s perspective.

How long will the eye exam take?

The time needed for the examination varies, based upon the child’s needs, condition, and extent of the vision or eye health problem, and the scope of testing needed. Dr. Benjamin will thoroughly examine your child’s eye structure and vision, and discuss the treatment options available. The eye exam will require about an hour or an hour and a half, depending upon the need for various tests.

What is Involved in a Pediatric eye exam?

Our pediatric eye exams consider two areas: your child’s visual acuity and physical eye health. Vision is tested with the use of pictures or letters, depending on the age of the child. Dr. Benjamin will check for common vision problems such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, lazy eye, crossed eyes, focusing ability, and many other eye and vision problems.

Physical eye health will be analyzed in the examination. Your child’s eyes can be checked for diseases such as glaucoma, cataracts, or cancer. While these are rarer in children, they can exist, and early treatment is critical. The health of the muscle and tissue surrounding the eyes is tested to observe how the eyes track objects, and how well they coordinate together. Your child’s depth perception and ability to see color are also evaluated in these exams.

Is an Eye Exam Safe for Children?

Absolutely. Dr. Benjamin is experienced with pediatric eye exams and has great insight in how to make your child feel at ease. The methods used to analyze your child’s eyes are safe and effective, and do not pose a risk of damage to the eyes or the surrounding tissues.

Dr. Benjamin works carefully with children to help them enjoy the experience of a routine pediatric eye exam. Eye drops may be needed to dilate your child’s eyes, and produce a slight discomfort while the eyes readjust. Eyesight should return to normal by the following day and will not produce any ongoing discomfort.

Are eye exams necessary even if my child doesn’t display symptoms of vision problems?

You may be uncertain if your child has a vision problem. When one eye has a decrease in visual acuity, the other eye compensates, and the deficiency may be undetected until a detailed pediatric eye exam is performed. It is vital to your child’s overall health to include regular eye exams in your yearly plans, even when no symptoms are evident. Maintaining eye health is critical to future quality of life, and Dr. Benjamin and our team of friendly professionals are here to help.

If no visual correction is necessary, subsequent eye exams should take place every 2-3 years. For children who require glasses or contact lenses, eye exams should occur on an annual basis.

Behaviors That Indicate Vision Problems in Children

It can be difficult to tell if your child is experiencing vision problems, particularly when they are very young. The following symptoms can be an indication of a larger problem:

• Sitting too close to the television
• Holding books, toys, or electronic devices close to the face
• Excessive squinting, blinking, tearing, rubbing, or redness
• Losing place while reading
• Recurring headaches
• Clumsiness

Many of the above symptoms may be signs of another medical condition, or may be just youthful behaviors. Your child’s eye exam can help you rule out or identify vision or eye health issues that require treatment.

Treatments Available for Your Child’s Vision Problems

Benjamin Eye Institute in Los Angeles offers a variety of treatments for your child. Children can wear glasses as early as infancy. The lenses and frames are made out of durable plastic or polycarbonate materials that are shatter-proof so your child is safe. Contact lenses can also be made for children, so Dr. Benjamin will help you evaluate the options based on your child’s needs and lifestyle.

Surgical options are available to improve medical conditions involving eye alignment, blocked tear ducts, excess skin around the eyes, and more. Each procedure is performed by our experienced ophthalmologist in our clinic using the industry’s latest technology. If surgery is needed, Dr. Benjamin will thoroughly review the procedure, how you can prepare, and aftercare instructions tailored to the specific procedure. Your child can enjoy improved vision with treatment from the Benjamin Eye Institute.

Call Benjamin Eye Institute today to schedule for a pediatric or standard comprehensive Los Angeles eye exam at 310.275.5533.