Infant Eye Exams: Should Your Baby Have An Eye Test?

Dr. Kar and associates at Bayview Optometry, offer examinations for everyone, at every age, including children and infants. Eye exams are an important part of your overall health care, not just in managing or diagnosing vision problems.

Pediatric eye exams are important for early development. Infants should have their first exam around six months of age. By this time, they should be able to focus and see colours. 

Detecting abnormalities early is crutial for identify any vision problems early so it doesn’t hinder a child's development later. 

Things you can look for at home

• excessive eye rubbing
• eye crossing
• frequent blinking
• not tracking moving objects well
• not holding eye contact

Premature babies are more likely to have vision problems, so it is even more important that they be seen at this age.

What happens at their first optometry appointment

Dr Kar will first check the baby’s pupils’ response to light. Then he will test whether the baby can fixate on an object and follow it as it moves. He will then check the strength of their eyes by making sure they see within the normal range for their age. Finally, he will look inside the eyes to make sure that all the structures in the eye have developed as they should.

If any problems are found, a plan of treatment can be discussed, which may include corrective lenses. Yes, babies can wear glasses! If there aren’t any problems, children should be followed yearly for their annual eye examinations, which are covered by OHIP until the age of 19.