Children’s Eye Exams at Eye Central in D.C. Capitol Hill & McLean

When Your Child Needs an Eye Exam

Your child’s exact eye exam schedule will vary depending on their needs and your optometrist’s recommendations, but generally speaking, children should have eye exams at the following ages:

• 6 months old
• Between 3 and 5 years old
• Between 5 and 6 years old, before they start school
• At least every 2 years for 6 to 18 years olds

Some children require an annual eye exam from age 6 to 18 if they wear glasses or if they are at risk for eye issues.

Please note that we only examine children age 5 and older.

Signs of Vision Problems in Children

Many children don’t know that they have vision problems. They think everyone sees the world like they do and often have trouble communicating issues with their vision.

If you notice these issues in your child, it’s time to visit the optometrist:

• Have a misaligned or lazy eye
• Complaints of double vision or headaches
• Closing one eye or tilting their head
• Sitting too close to the TV or whiteboard
• Squinting or rubbing their eyes frequently
• Blinking excessively
• Avoiding reading or other visual tasks
• No focus when reading or doing detailed tasks
• Needing to use a finger to guide them while reading

Visit us as soon as possible if you see these signs of vision problems. We can evaluate their eyes and recommend the appropriate treatment, including myopia control and vision therapy.