Pediatric Eye Exams in Franklin, TN

Eye concerns can happen at any age. In fact, 25% of children have some sort of ocular issue. Our team of doctors at Family Vision Care offer pediatric eye exams specifically designed with your children in mind. It's recommended that children have their first eye exam by age six months and then again before entering school. Early detection and treatment are essential to effectively treating eye conditions and vision impairments in children. To schedule a pediatric eye exam with Dr. Dunn, Dr. Weldon, or Dr. Short, contact our Franklin, TN office.

A pediatric eye exam at Family Vision Care in Franklin, TN, offers a number of great benefits for your child, including:

• Identifying vision problems
• Diagnosing medical eye issues (lazy eye, genetic diseases, etc.)
• Correcting vision issues
• Enhancing visual acuity
• Improving learning and socialization
• Helping prevent accidents or injuries

Pediatric eye exams are pretty similar to traditional eye exams, as they are performed to evaluate the structures of the eye and check for acuity issues. Similar to a traditional exam, we'll inspect your child's eyes and eyelids, test numerous muscle movements, assess the alignment of their eyes, and more. These quick and simple assessments help our doctors test for common eye conditions, like lazy eye, congenital glaucoma, and other infections. Based on our findings, we'll discuss treatment options as necessary or we'll schedule your child's next routine exam.

When should children have their first eye exam?
In general, children should have their first eye exam at around six months to one year, according to the American Optometric Association.

How often should a child have a pediatric eye exam?
We recommend that children have a comprehensive pediatric eye exam every year, beginning at age 5. With the increased demand children have now placed on their vision from school work and screen time, changes in vision can occur that negatively affect your child's school success and overall development. 

What are the signs my child has a vision problem?
The most common symptoms of a vision problem in children include:

• Squinting
• Getting too close, or holding an object too close
• Covering one eye
• Frequently rubbing the eyes
• Head tilting
• Eye pain
• Headaches
• Difficulties concentrating

When can children start wearing contact lenses?
It depends on the child, but in general, we typically recommend against contacts for children younger than seven or eight. This is because a child needs to have the responsibility and understanding to correctly use and care for their contacts.

Eye health is important at every age, and it's not just something to worry about as we get older. The truth is, ocular diseases and conditions can arise at any age, which is why we suggest routine eye exams for your child. Detecting eye issues early on not only allows us to treat them quicker, but it sets your child up for better academic and extracurricular success and just general better well-being. For more information on the pediatric eye care we offer at Family Vision Care, contact us today to schedule an exam at our Franklin, TN location.