Astigmatism Astigmatism is one of the most common vision problems, but most people don’t know what it is. Many people are relieved to learn that astigmatism is not an eye disease. Like nearsightedness and farsightedness, astigmatism is a type of refractive error – a condition related to the shape and size of the eye that… Read More

Amblyopia (Lazy Eye) Amblyopia, also known as “lazy eye,” is a visual development disorder that cannot be corrected with eyeglasses or contact lenses. If left untreated, it can cause legal blindness in the affected eye. About 2% to 3% of the population is amblyopic. Amblyopia Signs and Symptoms Amblyopia generally starts at birth or during… Read More

Your Infant’s Visual Development One of the greatest moments after the birth of your baby is the first time your newborn daughter or son opens their eyes and makes eye contact with you. But don’t be concerned if that doesn’t happen right away. The visual system of a newborn infant takes some time to develop…. Read More

Children and Computer Vision Syndrome Computer use has become a routine part of kids’ lives. About 90% of school-aged children in the U.S. have access to a computer. And kids are starting to use computers at a younger age. Among college students who were interviewed, 20% said they began using a computer before they were… Read More

Vision Therapy for Children Many children have vision problems other than simple refractive errors such as nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism. These “other” vision problems include amblyopia (“lazy eye”), eye alignment or eye teaming problems, focusing problems, and visual perceptual disorders. Left untreated, these non-refractive vision problems can cause eyestrain, fatigue, headaches, and learning problems. What… Read More

Learning-Related Vision Problems There’s no question that good vision is important for learning. Experts say more than 80% of what your child is taught in school is presented to them visually. To make sure your child has the visual skills they need for school, the first step is to make sure your child has 20/20… Read More

Controlling Nearsightedness in Children Myopia (nearsightedness) is a common vision problem affecting children who can see well up close, while distant objects are blurred. Nearsighted children tend to squint to see distant objects such as the board at school. They also tend to sit closer to the television to see it more clearly. Sometimes, childhood… Read More

Children’s Vision FAQs How often should children have their eyes examined? According to the American Optometric Association (AOA), infants should have their first comprehensive eye exam at 6 months of age. After that, kids should have routine eye exams at age 3 and again at age 5 or 6 (just before they enter kindergarten or… Read More

Are Contact Lenses a Good Choice for Kids? Contact lenses can offer several benefits over other forms of vision correction for kids. But a common question many parents have is: “When is my child old enough to wear contact lenses?” Physically, your child’s eyes can tolerate contact lenses at a very young age. In fact,… Read More

Sunglasses for Kids Children may not be as interested as adults are in wearing sunglasses as a fashion accessory, but because kids spend so much time outdoors in direct sunlight, they need sun protection even more than adults do. In fact, some experts say we get up to half of our lifetime exposure to solar… Read More