Infant Eye Examinations
The Canadian Association of Optometrists recommends a child should have their first eye exam between 6 to 9 months of age. Many parent’s first question when we recommend they schedule an eye examination for their baby is “How can you check their eyes if they can’t talk?”. Optometrists have training to examine eyes of all ages, and perform specialized tests on babies that do not require verbal responses.
Our main goal when checking an infant’s eyes is to ensure the eye health and vision is normal, so visual skills are developing properly. During the eye examination, the optometrist will check for nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism, eye movement and muscle balance, and eye health. Early detection of any problem is crucial, so treatment can be implemented right away to prevent any delays in development and learning.
Parents can help visual development by:
- Placing toys and object with different shapes and colours within the child’s reach
- Hanging a mobile above the crib
- Reading books to your child
- Changing their environment and position
- Showing and naming objects to your baby as you walk them around a room
- Peek-a-boo games with objects and faces
At Envision Eye Care we have specialized equipment to test children’s eyes. Our optometrists promote good eye health at all ages. Schedule an appointment today.
Envision Eye Care, Oakville’s Premiere Optometrists.