Pediatric Eye Care

The American Optometric Association (AOA) recommends that all children have their first eye exam before their first birthday. At Vistasite Optique in the Washington Heights neighborhood of New York City, New York, expert optometrist Vladimir Dvoretsky, OD, specializes in providing comprehensive pediatric eye care for infants, children, and young adults. Call the office or schedule an appointment online today to learn more about the importance of pediatric eye care.

What is pediatric eye care?

Pediatric eye care focuses on preventing, diagnosing, and treating vision and health concerns in children. Infants, children, and young adults have unique needs that require comprehensive care. 

Regular eye exams help assess a child’s eye health to ensure they have the visual acuity to perform tasks in school, sports, and at home without strain or fatigue.

When does my child need pediatric eye care?

Proper pediatric care plays an essential role in your child’s health and development. Visual acuity allows your child to see up close and at distances, allowing them to read, play, communicate, and focus without difficulty.

Monitoring your child’s vision and eye health as they age enables their optometrist at Vistasite Optique to detect early eye concerns and make the appropriate recommendations.

What types of vision concerns can pediatric eye care detect?

The experienced optometrists at Vistasite Optique can identify many eye concerns during pediatric eye care visits, including:

• Crossed eyes (strabismus)
• Lazy eyes (amblyopia)
• Myopia (nearsightedness)
• Hyperopia (farsightedness)
• Astigmatism
• Conjunctivitis (pink eye)
• Ptosis (droopy eyelid)
• Cataracts
• Styes
• Blocked tear duct

With extensive experience in pediatric eye care, the optometrists at Vistasite NYC can help protect and preserve your child’s eye health as they age.

What happens during a pediatric eye care exam?

Eye care for children depends on their age and medical history. Your child’s provider may recommend one of the following types of exams:

Infant exams

Vistasite Optique recommends bringing your infant in for an eye exam before they reach six months. This initial visit allows their optometrist to detect early signs of crossed eyes, lazy eyes, nearsightedness, and farsightedness.

Preschool exams

Ages 2-5 are a period of rapid growth and development for children. During this time, your child’s optometrist begins assessing their ability to identify words, numbers, and colors.

School-age exams

Between ages 6 and 18, your child’s optometrist tracks and monitors their visual acuity to detect signs of refractive errors, such as nearsightedness and farsightedness. They may recommend your child wear glasses, contact lenses, or other refractive correction devices to ensure they can focus in school and participate in activities they enjoy.

Call Vistasite Optique or schedule an appointment online today to learn more about pediatric eye care.