Pediatric Eye Exams

While eye exams offered by vision care locations may have their place in your family’s vision assessment, only a pediatric ophthalmologist or eye care specialist appropriately trained to treat pediatric patients can provide a thorough eye examination for your child.

Sometimes a child may have difficulty with a testing situation due to age or behavioral issues, yet our pediatric ophthalmologists have the testing tools and the expertise to perform an objective and effective evaluation.

Because we focus solely on children, we know how to ease a child’s fears or help a young person with a developmental disorder such as autism. We are able to encourage cooperation and get a good diagnostic result.

Using the latest diagnostic techniques and equipment adapted just for children, we provide comprehensive in-office eye exams that may include:

Retinal and eye photography – By taking a digital image of the back of the eye, we are able to examine parts of the retina in a way not possible with conventional instruments. This allows us to detect problems and monitor the retina for any signs of damage that could result in vision reduction or loss.

Visual field testing – Assessing your child’s field of vision can help determine whether he or she has problems with peripheral, or side, vision, which can sometimes be an indicator of eye diseases such as glaucoma.   

Ocular ultrasonography – An ultrasound that produces a 2-D image of the eye and its surrounding tissues can show any growths or other structural abnormalities. If a more in-depth study is needed, a CT scan or MRI may also be ordered.  

Electroretinogram (ERG) Study - This test is used to diagnose and monitor hereditary and ischemic (due to inadequate oxygen) retinal disorders, before or after the child is symptomatic. The test helps in the diagnosis of:

• Retinal Dystrophy  
  
• Retinitis Pigmentosa (a group of hereditary diseases of the retina)
  
• Usher Syndrome (a combination of hearing loss and retinitis pigmentosa)
  
• Leber’s Congenital Amaurosis (a severe abnormality of the retina present from birth)
  
• Stationary Night Blinding Disorders
• Best Disease (a progressive form of macular [central point of the retina] dystrophy)

How Can We Tell What Your Child Sees?

Nemours ophthalmologists often perform comprehensive eye evaluations on very young children and infants.

Yet, many parents wonder: How do you check vision in children who are too young to recognize the letters on the chart - or talk?

Our pediatric eye specialists use accurate picture eye charts and child-specific techniques, such as Teller Acuity Cards, which test an infant or young child's visual perception without requiring knowledge of letters or even a verbal response.

We can evaluate a child’s vision for alignment, eye movements, and structure. An ophthalmologic evaluation also includes retinoscopy and autorefraction—tests that can objectively measure the refractive error (nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism).