Guidelines for Having Your Child's Eyes Checked

Guidelines for Having Your Child’s Eyes Checked | Children’s Eye Health & Safety Month

8/16/2016

So far for Children’s Eye Health & Safety Awareness Month, we’ve talked about common diseases and conditions that can affect your child’s vision and signs of possible eye problems to watch for in your child. In this article, we’re looking at guidelines for having your child’s eyes checked. First, let’s start by looking at Massachusetts school requirements, and then we’ll review routine eye examinations for children, including recommended schedule for such exams.

Massachusetts School Requirements for Children’s Vision

Massachusetts requires annual vision screening for all school-aged children, starting at the preschool level. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health has set vision screening protocols for children in preschool through grade 12, and children enrolled in public school must have vision screening within 12 months of the start of the school year.

According to PreventBlindness.org, the role of vision screenings is to:

Identify children who may be at risk for eye disease or who may need a professional eye examination.
Help detect possible presence of eye disorders early, when treatment is more likely to be effective.
Provide necessary information and education about eye health.
Ensure those children who need to see an eye care professional receive the necessary referral to an appropriate eye doctor (ophthalmologist or optometrist), who can provide the proper evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment.

Teachers, nurses, physicians, optometrists, or others approved by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health can perform the Massachusetts Vision Test (or similar approved screening method). Each child’s vision screening results are recorded. For children who are thought to have or diagnosed with vision problems or neurodevelopmental delay, special requirements such as a comprehensive eye examination by an ophthalmologist or optometrist and report are required.

For additional information, visit Prevent Blindness’s Massachusetts School Requirements for Children’s Vision. For questions or specific information, you can always contact your child’s school and / or pediatrician with questions about vision screening for your child, necessary documentation, support, and the like.

Routine Comprehensive Eye Examinations for Children

Unlike vision screening, a comprehensive eye examination can only be performed by an eye doctor (ophthalmologist or optometrist) and is done to evaluate the eye health / function and vision. Early detection and treatment of eye problems and diseases can help to ensure a lifetime of good vision for your child.

The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends the following schedule for routine comprehensive eye routines for children:

Ages 0-2: Newborns, infants, and toddlers should be screened for common eye problems such as amblyopia, strabismus, and cataract during their regular pediatrician appointments. The pediatrician may refer your child to an ophthalmologist for further examination and treatment should any eye or vision problems be suspected. It is important to follow up on these, as correcting common vision problems in children is easier when the child’s neural network is developing.
Ages 3-5: Vision testing is recommended for pre-school children starting at the age of three (3). While your child may be verbalizing and communicating more and more, he or she may not realize or understand that he or she is having a problem seeing. Observing your child and asking your child’s teachers and other caregivers about signs of vision problems, such as squinting or holding a book further away than normal. If your child’s pediatrician suspects a vision problem, your child may be referred to an ophthalmologist or optometrist for a visual acuity test.
Ages 6-19: School-aged children should have eye examinations every one (1) to two (2) years – or as needed or prescribed by an eye care provider. While your child may be able to describe what he or she sees, your child may be unaware that a problem exists. Be sure to speak with your child’s teacher(s) about their behavior and comments. Problems in school or with schoolwork may be caused by vision problems, such as not be able to read books or see the blackboard. If your child requires glasses or contact lenses to correct a vision problem, he or she will need annual eye examinations to monitor vision changes and update the prescription as needed.

To learn more about routine eye examinations for children, watch the following videos:

View Video

When to Seek a Direct Referral to an Eye Doctor for Your Child

Vision Coverage for Children
PreventBlindness.org recommends that children at high risk of eye disease and vision disorders should “bypass screening and be referred directly to an eye care professional” for a comprehensive eye examination. If your child meets any of the following criteria, he or she should see an eye ophthalmologist or optometrist:

Born before 32 weeks of gestation.
Diagnosed with a neurodevelopment disorder.
Diagnosed with a systemic disease associated with vision problems, such as diabetes.
First-degree relative (mom, dad, or sibling) who has or was diagnosed with amblyopia or strabismus.
Noticeable eye or eyelid abnormalities such as misaligned or crossed eyes (strabismus) or droopy eyelid (ptosis).
Parents, care givers, teachers, or coaches with concerns about your child’s vision or eyesight.

If your child needs an appointment with an eye doctor to examine his or her eyes and vision, please call our office (508-746-8600) to schedule a complete eye examination with one of our ophthalmologists or optometrists.

Vision Coverage for Children

Ophthalmologists are medical doctors (MDs) and are typically covered by medical / health insurance, whereas optometrists are doctors of optometry (ODs) and are typically covered by vision insurance. The Affordable Care Act (ACA), also know as Obamacare, requires all plans offered in the marketplace to include vision coverage for children as an essential health benefit. Qualified health plans cover basic services for children, including annual examinations, glasses (lenses and frames), and contact lenses instead of glasses. To learn more insurance coverage for children and for your child specifically, visit or contact:

ObamacareFacts.com’s ACA Vision Coverage
Your medical / health and vision insurance companies

ContactWe’ve covered a lot of information on vision screening and comprehensive eye examinations for children. As you prepare your child to go back to school this year, visit Prevent Blindness America’s ‘Put Children on the Path to a Successful School Year’ webpage for additional insights and tips. And if you want to get your children involved, help him or her become an Eye Spy, an eye health and safety educational program for students, parents, and teachers offered by Prevent Blindness America.

While your child’s eye health and vision is vitally important to his or her quality of life and development, your child’s eye safety is equally important. In the following blog posts, we’ll cover protecting your child’s eyes from both the sun and injury. In the meantime, if you have questions about your child’s eye health / vision or scheduling an eye examination for your child, please don’t hesitate to contact us.