The Missouri Children’s Vision Bill

When it comes to children’s vision, it is important to correct any disorders as early as possible in order to prevent long-lasting consequences.  We don’t want our kids to be at a disadvantage as they begin to learn colors, numbers, and letters and as they learn to navigate their complex environments.  

Just as it is important for kids to receive well baby and pediatric health examinations and immunizations, it is equally important for them to have screenings to ensure age-appropriate visual functioning.

Two programs aimed at early detection of vision impairments are InfantSEE and the Missouri Children’s Vision Bill.

As an optometrist, I am often asked when a child should have his first eye examination. Children’s visual systems are not fully developed at birth, therefore, the first examination is usually at age 6 months. By that time, it is possible to determine whether a baby has significant nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism.

The next examination should occur at age 3. By this time, the child should have developed vision roughly equal to that of an adult. By this age, I am able to check a child’s color vision, depth perception, peripheral vision, as well as ocular health and whether there is any need to provide corrective eyeglasses or contact lenses.

Parents should look for eye turns or crossed eyes; inability to track moving objects; holding things unusually closely; or poor navigational skills that result in a child frequently bumping into things.

By age 3, the presence of a lazy eye or can be detected and corrected. In fact, when caught this early, the eye has the best chance of being stimulated to achieve its maximum visual potential.