Topic Overview
All children
Use
the guidelines below to schedule routine vision checks and eye exams with
your
pediatrician or
family doctor.
The American Academy of Pediatrics
(AAP) and the American Academy of Ophthalmologists
(AAO) recommend that all children have an
eye exam during the newborn period and again
at all routine
well-child visits.1
The U.S. Preventive Screening Task Force
(USPSTF) recommends screening
(tests) to detect lazy eye
(amblyopia), misaligned eyes
(strabismus), and defects in
visual acuity in children between the ages of 3 and 5 years.2
The AAP recommends that
vision screening start around age 3 and occur each year at ages 4, 5, and 6.
After that, screening should occur at ages 8, 10, 12, 15, and 18.3
The AAO recommends that
vision screening start around age 3 and occur each year at ages 4 and 5. After
age 5, the AAO recommends screening every other year.4
Vision screening
is recommended for infants who were either born at or before 30 weeks, whose
birth weight was less than 1500 g (3.3 lb), or who have serious medical
conditions. The first screening is recommended between 4 and 7 weeks
after birth.5 Any infant with symptoms of
eye disease, such as redness or swelling, should be examined by an
eye doctor (specialist) as soon as possible.
Eye exams by a specialist (an
ophthalmologist or
optometrist) are recommended if a
child of any age has:
- A
family history of eye problems, especially
genetic eye diseases.
- Signs of misaligned eyes, lazy eye, or
nearsightedness.
- A
red, swollen, or cloudy eye.
Children who have refractive errors or have a disease that affects the eyes
Children
and teens with a disease that affects the eyes can follow the eye
exam and vision testing schedule for all children. It's best that they see an
eye doctor (specialist) for their eye care.
At least once a year, most eye doctors want to check the vision
of children and teens that have
refractive errors that impact their sight. If
nearsightedness is severe or quickly gets worse in a child, he or
she will need exams more often.
References
Citations
- American Academy of Pediatrics, et al. (2003,
reaffirmed 2007). Policy statement: Eye examination in infants, children, and
young adults by pediatricians. Pediatrics, 111(4):
902–907.
- U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (2011). Vision screening for children 1 to 5 years of age:
U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommendation
statement. Rockville, MD: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Available online: http://www.pediatrics.org/cgi/doi/10.1542/peds.2010-3177.
- American Academy of Pediatrics (2008). Recommendations
for preventive pediatric health care. In Bright Futures: Guidelines for Health Supervision of Infants, Children, and Adolescents,
3rd ed., p. 591. Elk Grove Village, IL: American Academy of Pediatrics. Also
available online:
http://brightfutures.aap.org/pdfs/Guidelines_PDF/20-Appendices_PeriodicitySchedule.pdf.
- American Academy of Ophthalmology (1992, revised 2007). Pediatric Eye Evaluations:
Screening and Comprehensive Ophthalmic Evaluation. Preferred Practice Patterns. San Francisco: American Academy of Ophthalmology. Available online:
http://one.aao.org/ce/practiceguidelines/ppp_content.aspx?cid=621682dc-7871-4351-830e-545b1273d84c.
- American Academy of Pediatrics Section on
Ophthalmology, et al. (2006). Screening examination of premature infants for
retinopathy of prematurity. Pediatrics, 117(2): 572–576.
[Errata in Pediatrics, 117(4): 1468 and Pediatrics,
118(3): 1324.]
Credits
| By | Healthwise Staff |
|---|
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine |
|---|
| Specialist Medical Reviewer | Christopher J. Rudnisky, MD, MPH, FRCSC - Ophthalmology |
|---|
| Last Revised | June 24, 2011 |
|---|
Last Revised:
June 24, 2011
American Academy of Pediatrics, et al. (2003,
reaffirmed 2007). Policy statement: Eye examination in infants, children, and
young adults by pediatricians. Pediatrics, 111(4):
902–907.
U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (2011). Vision screening for children 1 to 5 years of age:
U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommendation
statement. Rockville, MD: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Available online: http://www.pediatrics.org/cgi/doi/10.1542/peds.2010-3177.
American Academy of Pediatrics (2008). Recommendations
for preventive pediatric health care. In Bright Futures: Guidelines for Health Supervision of Infants, Children, and Adolescents,
3rd ed., p. 591. Elk Grove Village, IL: American Academy of Pediatrics. Also
available online:
http://brightfutures.aap.org/pdfs/Guidelines_PDF/20-Appendices_PeriodicitySchedule.pdf.
American Academy of Ophthalmology (1992, revised 2007). Pediatric Eye Evaluations:
Screening and Comprehensive Ophthalmic Evaluation. Preferred Practice Patterns. San Francisco: American Academy of Ophthalmology. Available online:
http://one.aao.org/ce/practiceguidelines/ppp_content.aspx?cid=621682dc-7871-4351-830e-545b1273d84c.
American Academy of Pediatrics Section on
Ophthalmology, et al. (2006). Screening examination of premature infants for
retinopathy of prematurity. Pediatrics, 117(2): 572–576.
[Errata in Pediatrics, 117(4): 1468 and Pediatrics,
118(3): 1324.]