We Care About Your Children’s Vision!
Our eye doctors provide eye care services that are customized to meet your child’s needs. Kids are much more than miniature adults, and they need specialized attention to optimize their vision and eye health. Visit our pleasant and convenient office to benefit from a thorough pediatric eye exam in Washington, DC, near the White House.
We will assess more than just visual acuity – inspecting closely for any vision conditions that can compromise child development and learning. Dr. Michael Rosenblatt and Dr. Andrea Friedman are skilled in checking kids’ eyes with a friendly, gentle manner – so your children feel great about their eye care experience!
My son passed a school vision test. Why does he need a pediatric eye exam?
Vision screening in school does not check for the total range of vision conditions that can impact children. Only a knowledgeable, certified eye doctor can spot all the problematic signs.
When left undiagnosed or untreated, many vision conditions can interfere with your child’s ability to read and write, as well as play sports with coordination. In sum, even if your kid passed the school vision test with top grades, you still need to contact us to schedule a complete kids’ eye exam in Washington, DC!
My daughter isn’t complaining about her eyes. Why does she need an eye exam?
Kids do not or cannot always express themselves properly. Even if their vision is blurred, it’s very common for them to adapt and not complain. Only a thorough inspection of their visual system can diagnose many problems. Our eye doctors are experienced in detecting pediatric vision conditions, such as myopia (nearsightedness), amblyopia (lazy eye), strabismus (eye misalignment), and trouble with focusing (accommodation).
When does my child need an eye exam?
The American Optometric Association (AOA) recommends these guidelines:
1st eye exam: half year old
2nd eye exam: 3 years of age
3rd eye exam: prior to entering elementary school, at approximately 5-6 years of age
Follow-up eye exams: at least every 2 years for kids who don’t need eyeglasses or contact lenses, and who have no pediatric risk factors. If your child requires vision correction, vision therapy, or eye treatment for an ocular condition, our Washington, DC, eye doctors will give you personalized instructions on when to schedule eye exams.
What happens during a pediatric eye exam in Washington, DC?
Comfortable and quick, our kids’ eye exam will assess:
- Visual acuity
- Tracking skills
- Accommodation(focusing ability)
- Binocularity (eyeteaming)
- Hand-eye coordination
- Peripheral vision
- Color vision
- Eye health – we mayuse dilating eye drops before examining retinal tissues and the optic nerve
Your child’s age, developmental stage, visual complaints, medications, family eye history, and health condition will determine the list of procedures that we use to inspect her eyes. No matter what tests we perform, our eye doctors will use age-appropriate diagnostics to provide compassionate eye care!
Are there any warning signs that I need to watch for?
Yes, many vision conditions present symptoms that require a pediatric eye exam. Parents and teachers should be on the lookout for these behaviors:
- Head tilting or turning
- Excessive blinking
- Frequent eye rubbing
- Squinting, or closing one eye to see
- Poor tracking skills
- Inability to hold a steady gaze
- Wandering eye, or crossed eyes
- Short attention span
- Avoidance of reading
Do you need to schedule a pediatric eye exam?
We invite you to visit us in Washington, DC, near the White House. Our eye doctors aim to maximize children’s potential with maximum vision!