Pediatric Eye Exams

Ensuring good vision and optimal eye health for your children starts with routine pediatric eye exams. Nix Eye Care and Surgery provides comprehensive eye exams tailored to your child’s age and health needs. Thomas Nix, MD, specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of eye misalignments and diseases like glaucoma that develop in children. He also provides eyeglass prescriptions to improve your child’s vision, so they can thrive at home and in school. Call the Jonesboro, Arkansas, office today to schedule pediatric eye exams for your children or book an appointment online. 

What are pediatric eye exams?

A pediatric eye exam is a specialized checkup children need to assess eye health, as well as:

• Focusing
• Pupil response
• Eye alignment
• Visual acuity
• Color vision
• Depth perception

Nix Eye Care offers comprehensive pediatric eye exams for children of all ages in a comfortable, friendly environment.

Dr. Nix takes a gentle approach to ensure your child’s early eye exams are a positive experience. He tailors each exam to your child’s age and specific needs.

When should I schedule pediatric eye exams?

Along with regular checkups and screening by a pediatrician, children should start having pediatric eye exams around age 3 and before starting school.

Dr. Nix recommends that school-aged children have a comprehensive exam every few years as long as they have no existing eye problems or health issues.

Schedule a diagnostic exam if your child experiences sudden changes in their vision, or you notice changes in their behavior that may relate to an eye issue, such as:

• Frequent squinting
• Rapid blinking
• Misaligned or crossed eyes
• Closing one or both eyes often
• Poor hand-eye coordination

If your child sits too close to the screen or has issues at school because of poor vision, schedule a pediatric eye exam without delay.

What can I expect during my child’s first pediatric eye exam?

During your child’s first eye exam, Dr. Nix reviews their health history, including any issues that occurred during pregnancy and childbirth. He also discusses your child’s family history of eye disease and vision problems.

Dr. Nix uses age-appropriate tools to track your child’s eye movements, visual acuity, and ability to see color. Depending on your child’s age, he may also use advanced technology to check the inner structures of the eye to identify glaucoma and other conditions.

If your child has nearsightedness, astigmatism, or another refractive error, Dr. Nix can prescribe eyeglasses or contact lenses to clear and sharpen their vision. He discusses how often your child needs an eye exam based on their age, health history, and visual acuity. 

Call Nix Eye Care and Surgery today to schedule a pediatric eye exam or book a consultation online.