Children's Eye Examinations in Burbank
Kids depend upon sharp eyesight for many activities, from learning well in school to scoring high on the sports field. When children can’t see clearly, it also affects the way they interact and socialize. Poor performance often results across the board – which leads to poor self-esteem. In our Burbank eye care clinic, we want your child to enjoy crisp vision at all distances. We aim to help your child see the world clearly and reach for the stars!
Our Burbank eye doctors, Dr. Monji and Dr. Ichiuji are committed to optimizing your child’s vision. The basis of our exceptional eye care for kids relies on understanding our patients. We encourage kids to tell us about themselves, their unique lifestyle, interests and visual expectations. To prepare for your child’s eye exam, in Burbank please bring any questions that you may have. With patience and professional expertise, our Burbank optometrists will focus on your needs.
When are pediatric eye exams necessary?
The basic guidelines (set by the American Optometric Association) are as follows:
First exam: six months old
Second exam: 3 years old
Third exam: before starting elementary school, around age 5-6
Follow-up exams: at a minimum of every 2 years for kids with no eyeglasses and no pediatric risk factors. If your child requires any type of vision correction or eye treatments, our Burbank eye doctor will provide personalized instructions on when to schedule appointments
What happens during an eye exam in Burbank for children?
Testing procedures vary from patient to patient, depending upon the child’s age and health condition. Family eye history is also significant. Every kid is a unique individual and we will customize your Burbank eye exam appropriately.
Babies
The visual system grows and develops quickly during the first few months of life. We will assess your infant’s ability to focus with both eyes teaming together. This is when the brain learns to process visual cues and use them for motor skills, such as crawling and walking.
Toddlers and Preschoolers (age 2-5)
Almost every moment of this stage of life is used for learning and development. It’s fascinating to observe how young children learn to read and write, draw, build with blocks, and play a variety of games that need eye-hand coordination and honed perception. Many Burbank parents ask us how they can keep an eye on their child’s progress to make sure the visual system is working smoothly. Here are some warning signs to watch out for:
- Squinting or blinking constantly
- Holding books very close to the face
- Sitting close to screens
- Avoidance of puzzles or doing workbook pages
- Complaints about tired eyes or headaches
If you notice any of the above behaviors, we encourage you to schedule a pediatric eye exam as soon as possible. We’ll evaluate your child’s visual acuity and functional vision – checking for conditions such as lazy eye or crossed eyes (amblyopia or strabismus). When left untreated, these conditions can negatively affect learning.
School Age Children (age 6-18)
Sharp vision is critical for education, and undetected vision conditions put your child at risk for frustration in school and low self-confidence, which can also cause behavioral issues.
Be on the lookout for these warning signs:
- Losing the place while reading
- Trouble holding focus
- Complaining about double vision
- Frequent headaches
- Constant blinking
The presence of any of these symptoms points directly to a need for a thorough, complete eye exam! When we examine your kid’s eyes in our Burbank office, we’ll evaluate the following:
- Visual acuity
- Binocularity (eye teaming)
- Accommodation (focusing ability)
- Hand-eye coordination
- Tracking skills
- Peripheral vision
- Color vision
- Eye health – we will inspect the health of outer and inner eye tissues, checking for signs of abnormality or disease
Vision Correction and Vision Therapy
An open relationship is important between eye doctor and patient, and we will share all the results of your kid’s eye exam with you. If we recommend vision correction or treatment, our team will discuss the options with you. Remember - optimal vision is required to help children maximize their potential and excel!
With many patients from Burbank and Glendale, at Monji Optometry we are proud to have served families from the Los Angeles area for over 24 years!
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