Healthy Eyes & Clear Vision for Your Child.
Healthy vision is important for your child to develop focusing skills as well as visual acuity (at distance and near), proper eye teaming, correct eye movements, and tracking skills.
According to the American Optometric Association (AOA), a comprehensive eye exam should be given:
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Infants at 6 months of age
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Age 3
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Just before they enter the first grade
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Every 2 years (if no vision correction is needed)
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Every year if contacts or glasses are needed
Your children need to have regular eye exams whether or not they show signs of visual problems. After all, healthy eyes and vision are essential for your child to achieve their academic potential, participate in sports, and get the most out of these years!
We Are an InfantSEE® Provider
InfantSEE, a public health program managed by Optometry Cares - The AOA Foundation, is designed to ensure that eye and vision care becomes an integral part of infant wellness care to improve a child's quality of life. Under this program, AOA member optometrists provide a no-cost comprehensive eye and vision assessment for infants 6-12 months old, regardless of a family's income or access to insurance coverage.
InfantSEE provides early intervention using necessary specialized equipment and procedures - which are not available as part of most vision screenings. During an InfantSEE assessment, our opticians will test for:
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excessive or unequal amounts of nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism
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eye movement ability
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eye health problems
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and discuss patient and family history.
Comprehensive eye and vision care is important to detect problems early to ensure babies have the opportunity to develop the visual abilities they need to grow and learn.
At Rivertown Eyecare, we specialized in complete eye health for the whole family, including care for kids and teens.
THE IMPORTANCE OF
Pediatric Eye Health
The importance of regular eye exams for school-aged children cannot be overstated. About 80% of what children learn as they develop is visual, so annual eye examinations are key for their success!
Visual problems can often be mistaken for learning disabilities. For children, it can be frustrating to try to explain what’s wrong. Our optometrists can assist by identifying potential issues before they arise.
Early detection of any issues can help manage progression and treatment down the road.
Infant & Toddler Eye Care
Every experience a preschooler has is an opportunity for growth and development. They use their vision to guide other learning experiences. From ages 2 to 5, a child will be fine-tuning the visual abilities gained during infancy and developing new ones.
Steps taken at this age to help ensure vision is developing normally can provide a child with a good "head start" for school. This is also the time when parents need to be alert for the presence of vision problems like crossed eyes or lazy eye. These conditions often develop at this age. Crossed eyes or strabismus involves one or both eyes turning inward or outward. Amblyopia, commonly known as lazy eye, is a lack of clear vision in one eye, which can't be fully corrected with eyeglasses. Lazy eye often develops as a result of crossed eyes but may occur without noticeable signs.
Parents should also watch their child for an indication of any delays in development, which may signal the presence of a vision problem. Difficulty with the recognition of colors, shapes, letters, and numbers can occur if there is a vision problem. The preschool years are a time for developing the visual abilities that a child will need in school and throughout his or her life.
Things to Watch For:
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Sitting close to the TV or holding a book too close.
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Squinting.
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Tilting their head.
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Covering an eye.
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Frequently rubbing their eyes.
Signs of Eye & Vision Problems
According to the American Public Health Association, about 10% of preschoolers have eye or vision problems. However, children this age generally will not voice complaints about their eyes. Parents should watch for signs that may indicate a vision problem.
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Short attention span for the child's age.
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Turning of an eye in or out.
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Sensitivity to light.
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Difficulty with eye-hand-body coordination when playing ball or bike riding.
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Avoiding coloring activities, puzzles, and other detailed activities.
Let's Play with Color!
Cool glasses for cool kids!
At Rivertown Eyecare, you will find the most unique eyewear the Twin Cities have to offer, and this is especially true for our youngest patients! Etnia Barcelona makes colorful, durable, and expressive eyewear that makes wearing eyeglasses FUN.
Indestructible + Flexible + Fun: Meet Nano Vista!
Tough frames made to last. All NANO frames can be adapted to all uses with temples or switched to wear as a headband: From a quiet classroom to a rugged playground.
Kid's eyeglasses should be stylish, lightweight, and durable enough to withstand all kinds of play! We offer a wide selection of cool frames that are built to last. Our opticians make picking out frames fun (for kids of all ages)!
