FIRST CHECKUP

As parents, it is fundamental to take care of and protect the health of our children, and in this sense, the visual health of children is very important, mainly for them to be able to perform adequately in school. For this reason, the first ophthalmological checkup is fundamental, to guarantee the child’s correct development.

Sometimes children do not manifest these vision problems, and as parents, it can be hard for us to identify them, but this is something that can have serious repercussions in the future.

It is very important for parents to be aware of their children’s eyesight, and verify if they need glasses, since it is vital to detect and correct this problem on time, so that when they become adults, they do not suffer the consequences of the absence of visual correction as children.

If the child has a vision problem, it is important to know how to choose children’s glasses, to be able to adequately correct their vision. There are certain parameters, which must be taken into account, to thereby be able to combat this problem in a satisfactory manner.

Parameters to be able to combat a child’s vision problems

The most important thing is to go visit an ophthalmologist, and have your child’s first checkup, where the problem is determined. The date does not have to be exact, however, it is convenient to do so before the age of three. Before that age, it is generally not necessary to visit the ophthalmologist, unless a pediatrician has not so determined.

During the first months of life, the pediatrician will conduct investigations contemplating the ocular structures in search of problems. After three years, it is convenient to go get a checkup with an ophthalmologist, and detect the following symptoms:

• Ocular deviation
• Problems seeing clearly up close or far away
• Constant tearing or red eyes.
• Constant and erratic ocular movements (normally without a fixed gaze)
• Abnormalities in the eyelids, for example a droopy eyelid
• Whitish pupil reflex

Although these are the main symptoms, whenever “strange” movements are seen in a child’s eyes, we should visit an ophthalmologist.

Other factors that need to be kept in mind

In the first ophthalmological checkup of a children other factors must be kept in mind, such as:

1. If the child has a pathological history.
2. A history in the family doctor’s records.
3. The baby’s development from birth
4. Difficulties in school performance.

Thereafter, we have to choose children’s glasses that are adequate for the problem in question. It is important to consider buying prescription glasses that are special for each child, that match their style and that have the necessary prescription graduation.