Medical and Routine Exams
Whether your child is referred to our office for a medical condition such as an eye which is crossing or wandering (strabismus), "lazy eye" (amblyopia) or a non-medical condition (a "routine" eye exam for nearsightedness or astigmatism), a complete eye exam will be performed. The following is a description of what to expect at your child’s first eye exam.
During an ophthalmic exam (for both medical and routine eye exams) the doctor will evaluate your child's visual acuity, eye movement, eye alignment, and overall health of the eye. Your child will also be screened and evaluated for amblyopia ("lazy eye"), strabismus (misaligned or "crossed" eyes), cataracts, glaucoma, retinal abnormalities, as well as other ocular and general medical conditions which might affect eyesight. We try to make the exam fun for your child. During much of the exam, younger children will be looking at age-appropriate toys. Games are played to obtain the cooperation of young children. A comprehensive eye examination takes time, so plan to spend at least one and a half hours in our office. For most initial eye examinations, your child's eyes will be dilated with eye drops. This allows the ophthalmologist or optometrist to examine vital structures of your child's eyes including the optic nerve and retina. Dilation will make the pupils look larger than normal. Some children may have difficulty reading and be light sensitive for up to 24 hours, but the major effect of the drops is gone in approximately 6 to 8 hours. On a bright day, your child may be sensitive to sunlight, so you may wish to bring sunglasses if your child has them and/or limit time spent outside. You may need to help your school-age child with homework and other near work, as the eyesight is usually blurry for several hours.