How Often Should Children Visit the Optometrist?
There are a few key developmental milestones at which kids should have an eye exam. A child’s first eye exam should be at 6 months old. Their next exam should be at age 3 and they should have another at age 5, before they start school.
Once children are school-aged, they should have an eye exam at least every 2 years. Once per year is recommended if your child wears glasses, contact lenses, or if they have other ocular or systemic concerns. You should also schedule an exam right away if you notice any of the following behaviors in your child:
- Delayed motor development
- Rubbing their eyes frequently or blinking excessively
- Failure to maintain eye contact
- Poor eye tracking skills
- A misaligned eye or complaints of double vision
Complaints of frequent headaches