Children's Eye Exams in San Mateo

Name: Optical Illusions
Address: 194 Hillsdale Shopping Center, San Mateo, CA, 94403
Telephone: (650) 341-8080

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Healthy Vision is Your Child’s Key to Success

At Optical Illusions of San Mateo, our goal is to safeguard your child’s vision while making eye care fun.

Children’s eyes change at a rapid pace as they grow. In fact, vision is their most important tool for learning. That’s why it’s vital for your child to have regular eye exams – this gives them the best chance of success in school and life.

Book an appointment for your child today. We’ll ensure any ocular health or visual issues are diagnosed early and treated effectively.

Does My Child Have a Vision Problem?

It can be difficult to determine whether or not your child has a vision problem. Sometimes they’re too young to articulate what’s wrong, or they may not even realize they are experiencing problems with their vision.

That’s why as parents, it’s vital to pay attention. If you notice your child exhibiting the following behaviors, it may be a sign of compromised vision:

Excessive eye rubbing or blinking
Squinting, covering, or closing one eye
Inability to maintain eye contact
Tilting head to one side
Headaches or dizziness
Holding books or devices closely to their face
Unexplained clumsiness or lack of balance

The above may be signs of other conditions or issues, but ruling out any vision concerns is an important first step.

Eye Exam Schedule

Our team of optometrists, along with the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AOA), recommends adopting the following eye exam schedule to ensure your child’s vision is developing properly:

The First Eye Exam

It’s recommended that your child’s first eye exam be conducted around six months after they’re born. At this time, we’ll test visual acuity (clearness of vision), eye movement ability and any eye health issues.

The Second Eye Exam

Between the ages of two and five, it’s recommended that your child have their second eye exam. Visual acuity, eye health, and eye movement ability will be tested again, along with some child-friendly tests that assess whether your child eyes can properly focus and align at far, middle and near distances.

Exams Throughout The Rest of Their Life

From 5 years and up, the AOA recommends children undergo annual eye exams. Around this time, nearsightedness (myopia) is the most common refractive error, and correction via eyeglasses is popular in this age group. Other tests include pupil reaction, focus, alignment, and eye movement.