As a mother of two, Dr. Ferreira understands how crucial having an exceptional vision is to a child’s development and success in life. With great vision, comes a better ability to perform in school, in sports, and an overall enhancement to their well-being and confidence.
A child’s vision is essential, especially when developing as an infant and into early school age. Dr. Ferreira is here to help you navigate the norms of the visual system in your babies and toddlers all the way up to their high school and college years.
She is a firm believer in the prevention and early detection of any visual issues that could delay healthy balanced vision from forming in your children. If vision is not corrected appropriately and early in children, it could lead to irreversible damage to a child's visual system.
Babies and even young children don’t know how to express vision issues, and can often be mistaken for attention disorders or behaviors concerns. Signs that your child may need their vision checked to include:
Squinting
Excessive blinking or eye rubbing
Sitting too close to the TV
Inability to focus or pay attention for long periods of time
Behavior issues in school or with homework related tasks
Clumsiness
Covering or closing one eye to see better
Tilting their head when viewing tv or reading
Losing their place while reading
Genetics can play a big role in the development of our children's vision and overall wellness. If any family history is present that has caused blindness or irreversible vision loss or even excessive prescriptions in family members, it is extremely important to monitor for early signs in children. There are multiple options of treatment that can help slow progression or prevent permanent damage when addressed early. Some conditions that are important to check for are:
Excessive myopia or astigmatism
Strabismus
Amblyopia (lazy eye)
Rare, but serious eye diseases
The current exam recommendations for children, from the American Academy of Ophthalmology, are:
Birth: Recommended if born premature or family history of eye diseases
6 months: Assessing alignment, movement, and early signs of increased prescription
1 year: Assessing Healthy eye development and early signs of Amblyopia/ Strabismus
3 years (school age): Assessing Visual Acuity (how well they can see), signs of prescription, focusing ability
Every year following the entrance to school: Assessing the stability of vision as they progress and develop
So whether your kiddos are healthy as can be or showing any signs or symptoms mentioned above, don't delay in scheduling for a pediatric vision exam.
Let Dr. Ferreira give you and your children peace of mind, through easy and simple eye exams as early as birth. She adores kiddos and wants to help preserve and protect their vision so that they can have the best chance of success for their bright futures ahead.
Book your appointment today