Pediatric Eye Care St. Louis Park
We understand the immense significance of pediatric eye care, recognizing that approximately 70% of a child’s sensory receptors are concentrated in their eyes. This fact underscores how crucial it is for children to have clear vision, as it profoundly impacts their ability to learn and comprehend the world around them. The journey of exploration and discovery for young ones heavily relies on their sense of sight. As devoted pediatric eye care practitioners in St. Louis Park, we aim to ensure every child receives the essential visual resources necessary for optimal growth and development through regular eye exams. Our highly skilled doctors are committed to providing exceptional care for your child’s eyes, employing cutting-edge techniques and state-of-the-art technology to make the testing process accurate and enjoyable for the little ones. Making eye exams a fun experience is essential in fostering a positive attitude towards eye care, ensuring children are at ease during their visits.
Following the guidelines the American Optometric Association (AOA) set forth, we recommend comprehensive eye exams for children at specific stages of their early years. These stages include examinations at six months, three years before starting first grade, and yearly after that. Establishing a regular schedule for these exams enables early detection and timely treatment of any vision problems, injuries, or diseases that may arise. Our comprehensive exams cover an array of essential aspects, including testing for visual acuity, eye tracking, focusing skills, nearsightedness, farsightedness, amblyopia, crossed eyes, dyslexia, and color blindness. The dynamic nature of a child’s eyes as they grow makes early identification of any issues critical for their overall health. Addressing potential problems early helps prevent academic struggles due to poor vision and averts any risk of permanent damage to their precious eyesight.
Infant Eye Exams: Birth to 24 Months
At our practice, we actively participate in the InfantSEE program, a wonderful initiative that offers free eye examinations for babies aged between 6 to 12 months. During the initial months of life, your little one embarks on a remarkable journey of learning to focus and coordinate their eyes, ultimately enabling them to use their vision harmoniously. This gradual development of the visual system involves the brain’s acquisition of skills to process visual information, providing your baby with the extraordinary ability to comprehend and engage with the world around them. As their eyesight evolves, it plays a pivotal role in fostering essential motor development milestones, such as hand-eye coordination, crawling, and walking.
By the time your baby reaches six months of age, their visual capabilities should be on par with yours, encompassing proficient focusing ability, color vision, and depth perception. Our dedicated doctors perform comprehensive eye exams specifically designed for infants to ensure that your baby’s vision is developing appropriately and meeting the expected milestones. These examinations allow us to assess your baby’s visual progress and overall development.
Preschool Eye Exams:
Ages 2 to 5
During the toddler and preschool years, children undergo significant intellectual and motor skills growth. It’s important to note that approximately 5 to 10% of preschoolers may experience vision problems, potentially impacting the development of their fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and perceptual abilities. This, in turn, can affect their capacity to engage in activities such as reading, writing, creative endeavors like drawing, painting, building, and participating in sports – all of which rely heavily on satisfactory vision and proper visual processes
Look out for developmental delays, as early intervention can substantially enhance your child’s success. Notice your child frequently rubbing their eyes, squinting, avoiding activities like puzzles or coloring, or sitting too close to the TV or reading material. We can work together to ensure your child’s optimal development.
School-Age Eye Exams:
Ages 6 to 18
Undetected or uncorrected vision problems can have significant repercussions for children and teenagers, affecting various aspects of their lives, including social, academic, athletic, and personal domains. If you observe your child struggling in school or after-school activities, it can be one of the initial indicators of an underlying vision issue. Experiencing difficulties with reading, focusing, hand-eye coordination or eye teaming can be unsettling for your child, leading to frustration and, in some cases, behavioral changes. As a parent, it’s crucial to have open communication with your child, reassuring them that these vision challenges are common and often treatable.
In addition to assessing basic visual acuity, our doctors conduct comprehensive tests to evaluate your child’s binocular capabilities, peripheral and color vision, focusing, tracking, and hand-eye coordination. Furthermore, we thoroughly examine the area around and inside the eyes, checking for any potential eye diseases or health conditions. Our aim is to provide a thorough and detailed evaluation, enabling us to identify and address any vision-related issues, ultimately empowering your child to thrive in all aspects of their life.
Location & Doctors
We take great pride in introducing our exceptional team of highly skilled doctors dedicated to delivering unparalleled optical expertise and care to each and every patient. Our commitment to you extends beyond just providing top-notch eye care; we strive to create an unforgettable and educational experience concerning your optical conditions. Our award-winning doctors place a premium on building lasting relationships with our patients, ensuring you are well-informed and receptive during every visit.
At Art of Optiks of St. Louis Park, we prioritize clarity and comfort, guaranteeing an exceptional customer experience that will leave a lasting impression. Contact us today to book a pediatric eye care appointment in St. Louis Park.
