As your children grow and develop, their eyes and vision grow and develop along with them. Clear vision, a function of cooperation between the eyes and the brain, requires healthy eyes and proper refraction of light. Vision problems in childhood can cause everything from chronic eye strain to poor performance in school. You can give your kids' eyes the best possible start in life by scheduling pediatric eye exams and any necessary treatment at Advanced Eye Care in Amarillo, TX.

The Health and Function of Children's Eyes

Vision as we know it does not really come together until around six months of age, after the brain and eyes have learned how to work together properly. The vision skills developed by an infant then play critical roles in other functions such as the development of balance, physical coordination, depth perception, and reading/writing skills.

Unfortunately, barriers can sometimes stand in the way of this normal, healthy development. The eyes themselves may struggle with issues such as congenital cataracts, tumors, or other physical problems that impair vision. Eye function can suffer due to problems such as strabismus (in which the eyes are not perfectly aligned), amblyopia (in which the brain relies mostly on only one eye's input) or focusing weaknesses. Vision problems may also stem from refractive errors such as nearsightedness, astigmatism, or farsightedness.

It's imperative that you have any such eye or vision problems diagnosed and corrected as early in your child's life as possible. Poor function can delay your child's academic progress, cause headaches and other discomforts, or even imperil your child's safety.

Pediatric Eye Exams and Treatments from Our Optometrist 

The AOA recommends that all children receive several pediatric eye exams from infancy through the age of 5 or 6. Our optometrist can check for eye diseases that require treatment, eye function errors that may respond to vision therapy, and refractive errors that can be corrected with eyeglasses. (Older kids can wear contact lenses once they know how to use them safely.)

Older children should continue to receive pediatric eye exams at our optometry center throughout their school years. Children with no obvious eye or vision issues should have an exam every other year, while kids receiving treatment for such conditions should see our optometrist once a year.

Schedule an Appointment with Our Pediatric Eye Doctor in Amarillo, TX

Your kids are never too young to embark on a lifetime of optimal vision. Call Advanced Eye Care today to learn more and schedule an appointment with our Amarillo pediatric eye doctor!