Private Practice Optometry - Experience the Difference
Bowie, Annapolis, Crofton, Gambrills, and Surrounding Areas
Pediatric Eye Exams at Peepers Eyecare Center
We, at Peepers Eyecare Center, start pediatric exams at age 5. Ensuring your child's vision is healthy is crucial for their overall development. At Peepers Eyecare Center in Bowie and Gambrills, MD, and NV'y Optical on Main in Annapolis, MD, we specialize in pediatric eye exams that cater to infants, toddlers, and school-aged children. Our experienced team understands the importance of early detection and treatment of vision problems to prevent permanent vision loss. We also tend to the needs of five-year-old patients.
Industry experts say 5% to 10% of preschool students and 25% of school-aged children suffer from vision problems. Early identification of these issues is crucial. If left untreated, some childhood vision problems can lead to permanent vision loss
According to the American Optometric Association (AOA), babies should have their first comprehensive eye exam at 6 months of age, followed by additional eye exams at 3 years of age and again before entering school at age 5 or 6. School-aged children should have an eye exam every 2 years if no vision correction is required. Children who need eyeglasses or contact lenses should be checked every year or according to their eye doctor’s recommendations.
Early eye exams are important because children need these basic visual skills for learning:
- Near vision
- Distance vision
- Eye teaming (binocularity) skills
- Eye movement skills
- Focusing skills
- Peripheral awareness
- Eye/hand coordination
Your child's pediatrician or family doctor is at the forefront of your child's vision health. If he or she suspects a problem, a referral to an eye health professional may be made.
With over 30 years of experience and a commitment to quality care, we are dedicated to safeguarding your child's eye health. Call us today to schedule your child's eye exam. Pediatric eye exams are also available at our Gambrills, MD and Annapolis, MD locations.
When to Seek a Pediatric Eye Exam
Recognizing when it's time to schedule a pediatric eye exam can make a significant difference in your child's eye health. When scheduling an eye exam, choose a time when your son or daughter is typically alert and happy. Specifics of how eye exams are conducted depend on the child’s age, but an exam will involve a case history, vision testing, determination of whether eyeglasses are needed, testing of eye alignment, an eye health examination, and a consultation with you regarding the findings.
Let us know if your child has a history of:
- Family history of vision problems:
- Nearsightedness
- Farsightedness
- Misaligned eyes (strabismus)
- Amblyopia (“lazy eye”)
- Prematurity
- Delayed motor development
- Struggling to focus on objects
- Squinting or closing one eye to see better
- Frequent eye rubbing or blinking
- Complaints of headaches or eye strain
- Difficulty reading or following along in school
- Fails to maintain eye contact
- Has poor eye tracking skills
Another warning sign is if your child has failed a pediatrician/preschool vision screening. We'll also want to know about previous ocular diagnoses and treatments involving your child, surgeries, and glasses or contact lens wear.
Contact Peepers Eyecare Center in Bowie and Gambrills, MD, and NV'y Optical on Main in Annapolis, MD for your child's comprehensive pediatric eye exam.
The Benefits of Professional Pediatric Eye Exams
Professional pediatric eye exams offer numerous advantages that can positively impact your child's vision and overall development. At Peepers Eyecare Center in Bowie and Gambrills, MD, and NV'y Optical on Main in Annapolis, MD, we provide:
- Early detection of vision issues
- Prevention of permanent vision loss
- Assessment of essential visual skills
- Customized treatment plans
- Comprehensive care and follow-ups
- Access to quality eyewear and contact lenses
Contact us today to ensure your child receives the professional vision care they need.
Why Choose Peepers Eyecare Center
At Peepers Eyecare Center in Bowie and Gambrills, MD, and NV'y Optical on Main in Annapolis, MD, we pride ourselves on delivering exceptional eye care services tailored to meet your child's needs. Our dedication to quality and personalized care sets us apart:
- 30+ years of experience
- Locally, family-, woman-, and minority-owned
- Emergency services available
- On-site lab
- Affordable eyewear packages
- Insurance handling and contact lens price matching
Reach out to us today to learn more about how we can help improve your child's eye health.
Contact Us
Don't wait to address your child's vision and eye health needs. At Peepers Eyecare Center in Bowie and Gambrills, MD, and NV'y Optical on Main in Annapolis, MD, we are committed to providing top-quality pediatric eye exams and comprehensive eye care.
Contact us today to schedule an appointment and take the first step toward ensuring your child's vision is healthy and clear.
Eye Testing for Children
- We start seeing children at age 5.
- LEA symbols for young children are similar to regular eye tests using charts with letters, except that special symbols in these tests include an apple, a house, a square, and a circle
- Retinoscopy is a test that involves shining a light into the eye to observe how it reflects from the retina (the light-sensitive inner lining of the back of the eye), helping eye doctors determine the child’s eyeglass prescription
- Random Dot Stereopsis uses dot patterns to determine how well the 2 eyes work as a team
Eye and Vision Problems Affecting Children
Amblyopia
Also called “lazy eye,” this is decreased vision in 1 or both eyes despite the absence of any eye health problem or damage. Common causes of amblyopia include strabismus (see below) and a significant difference in the refractive errors of the 2 eyes. Treatment of amblyopia may include patching the dominant eye to strengthen the weaker eye.
Strabismus
This is the misalignment of the eyes, often caused by a congenital defect in the positioning or strength of muscles that are attached to the eye and control eye positioning and movement. Left untreated, strabismus can cause amblyopia in the misaligned eye. Depending on its cause and severity, surgery may be required to treat strabismus.
Convergence Insufficiency
This is the inability to keep the eye comfortably aligned for reading and other near tasks. Convergence insufficiency can often be successfully treated with vision therapy, a specific program of eye exercises.
Focusing Problems
Children with focusing problems (also called accommodation problems) may have trouble changing focus from distance to near and back again (accommodative infacility) or have problems maintaining adequate focus for reading (accommodative insufficiency). These problems often can be successfully treated with vision therapy.
Eye Teaming Problems
Many eye teaming (binocularity) problems are more subtle than strabismus. Deficiencies in eye teaming skills can cause problems with depth perception and coordination.
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