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Get Expert Care From a Pediatric Ophthalmologist in Lancaster, PA, Today

Pediatric optometrist

Are you wondering if your preschooler has a vision problem? Do you need to schedule an eye exam for a child just starting school? There's no need to keep searching for a pediatric optometrist in Lancaster County, PA, for your school-aged children. Trust your child's vision to the pediatric eye care experts at Campus Eye Center. We have a pediatric ophthalmologist on staff and general optometrists who can see patients aged five years or older.

A children's eye doctor with special training to spot potential vision problems and eye conditions in young eyes will evaluate your child's vision. During the visit, we will utilize specific equipment to assess your child's vision for common vision disorders and eye problems, including:

  • Refractive error (the need for glasses)
  • Amblyopia (lazy eye)
  • Strabismus (eye turn)
LNP Readers' Choice Awards 2020

Voted #1 in Pediatric Optometry


Why Does My Child Need Special Eye Care?

Bringing your child to a pediatric ophthalmologist if you suspect an issue while they are still growing can help mitigate any serious or long-lasting effects of eye problems. The parts of the brain that help control sight and the eyes are still changing as a child grows, which means that many eye problems can be treated and corrected while they are still young.

Children's eye exams are essential, and it's best if you schedule them regularly. About 5-10% of preschoolers and 25% of school-aged children have vision problems, many of which are treatable if identified early on in childhood. Approximately 80% of learning is visually based, so poor vision can hinder your child's ability to fully study their school materials and experience the world around them. Therefore, undetected and untreated vision problems can negatively impact a child's ability to reach their full academic potential educationally and socially. Please read our guide to children's eye care to learn more.

Early identification of your child's vision problem can be crucial since children are often more responsive to treatment when a children's eye care professional identifies the issues early. If left untreated, some childhood eye conditions can cause permanent vision loss as your child grows into adulthood.

Children's Eye Exams

Our eye health care exams for children go beyond simply evaluating your child for "20/20" vision. We'll also evaluate your child's focusing ability and binocular vision (the ability of the eyes to work as a team) and their overall ocular health. Using specialized equipment, we can spot vision difficulties long before a child can verbalize what they can see, which means they don't need to be able to talk yet for us to keep track of their eye health.

When scheduling an eye exam, choose a time when your child is usually alert and happy.

Eye exams are conducted differently depending on your child's age, but the exam will generally involve:

  • A case or family history
  • Vision testing
  • Evaluation of whether eyeglasses are needed
  • Eye alignment testing
  • Eye health examination
  • Consultation with you regarding our findings

Please be sure to let us know if your child has a history of prematurity or delayed motor development before we examine their eyes. We should also know if your child engages in frequent eye rubbing or blinks excessively. Also, having difficulty maintaining eye contact, not holding a gaze (fixation) while looking at objects, exhibiting poor eye tracking skills, or failing a pediatrician or preschool vision screening may be signs of a vision problem.

Children's Vision

There are different stages of eye growth each child goes through, and with each stage, you may notice changes in their eyes or vision. Having a children's eye doctor in Lancaster County, PA, is vital to keep track of your child's eye health needs as their vision development progresses.

  • Infant Vision: Birth to 24 Months of Age
  • Preschool Vision: 3 to 5 Years of Age
  • School-Aged Vision: 6 to 18 Years of Age

boy with glasses reading a book

When Should My Child Have an Eye Exam?

According to the American Optometric Association (AOA), infants should have their first complete eye examination with a children's eye doctor at six months of age. An additional, comprehensive eye exam should occur at age three and again before entering the first grade—at about age 5 or 6. If the pediatric optometrist seeing your school-aged child determines a child is at risk for developing eye or vision problems, they may need eye exams more often than a child without vision issues.

Most kids with visual difficulties do not complain due to their inability to differentiate between clear and poor vision. Parents should be aware that a child with a vision problem may squint, sit or hold items at a very close distance, tilt their head to one side, and cover or rub their eyes. Some children will stand close to an object or bring something close to their faces to see. You may also notice your child exhibits signs of poor depth perception, strange eye movements, or they have an eye that doesn't focus as well as the other. They may complain of headaches, eye strain, or words blurring together.

Vision correction is often possible with early intervention by a pediatric ophthalmologist and regularly scheduled eye exams. If you are searching for a pediatric optometrist in the Lancaster County, PA, area, Campus Eye Center can help with general optometry exams for children over five years. For younger children's eye care needs, our pediatric ophthalmologist is available to ensure your child's vision stays on track as they grow, so they can have healthier vision throughout life!


Childhood Eye Issues to Watch Out for in Your Children

Children can experience many eye issues, from pink eye and amblyopia to bacterial eye infections or misalignment. You may notice signs of eye issues in your children before they can talk to you about eye problems. For example, if you notice that one of your baby's eyes drifts away or moves in when they look at your face, they may be experiencing eye issues that need addressing. Some other eye issues your child may experience include the following:

It's never too early to discuss your child's eye health concerns! If you suspect your child has these or any other eye issues mentioned on this page, it may be time for you to schedule an appointment with a pediatric ophthalmologist or an optometrist in Lancaster County, PA, today! Contact us now.

Campus Eye Center is an exceptional eye center with experienced eye doctors, Ophthalmogists and Optometrists, in Lancaster, PA.
We offer total vision care including contact lenses at either of our two locations.

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