Eye Exams are FUN not scary.
As a San Jose Optometrist we see many children for eye exams. Some times for a child a first time visit for an eye exam can seem very scary because they don’t know what to expect. Memories of going to a “doctor” and getting a shot or having to take horrible tasting medicine doesn’t help.
Eye Exams for Children
It’s important for parents to talk to their child before their first appointment for an eye exam. Children need to feel comfortable with seeing an optometrist first. Explain to the child how important it is to have an annual eye exam and how the eye doctor is only going to check to see if the eyes are healthy.
Having an annual eye exam for children is very important because their visual system is not fully developed. Many eye doctors believe the stresses of game boys, cell phones, iphones and DS2’s can increase the risk of myopia or nearsightedness.
Tips for Parents
1. Research Your Eye Doctors. View your vision benefit directory or do a google search and look for phrases like “family practice” or “pediatric optometry. You may also want to call and visit the office before making an appointment: Is there a children’s play area? What type of frame selection do they have for children? Is the staff friendly?
2. Talk with your child before you go. Emphasize that visiting the eye doctor will be fun. Tell your child about some of the eye tests, like the reading chart, the optometrist will use a flash light to look at their eye and ask you to identify colors and shapes. Children are generally a lot more at ease when they know what to expect.
3. Share important information. The optometrist will ask some questions during the eye exam that could reveal signs of vision problems like squinting or headaches. Encourage your child to speak up during the exam.
4. Make it fun. Children takes cues from their parents. If you make it fun your children will have a lot more fun in the process.
5. Let your child choose. One of the keys to encouraging kids to wear their glasses on a regular basis is to let them choose which frame they like. If you think their is a better choice for your child, explain why and the optician can offer some better choices.
Dr. Tarryn Uyen Ngo is a San Jose Optometrist and business owner of North Valley Optometry.
