Frequently Asked Questions

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In most cases, a referral from your healthcare provider is required. Please contact our office for more information.

Did you ever wonder how well your child sees? Are images clear in both eyes? Does your child use both eyes to see together? These are important questions. Many parents (and unfortunately some doctors) believe that until a child is in school or complains of bad vision, that he/she is too young for glasses. Your pediatrician or family practice doctor should be checking your child’s eyes and vision from the day he/she is born. This if often difficult, and it is important that this is done correctly. Up to 60% of children given glasses are in the wrong prescription or don't need them.  Many eye problems can present in early childhood, and can result in irreversible blindness in one or both eyes if not detected in time.
Amblyopia (lazy eye, in which one eye does not see well regardless of glasses) occurs in 3-5% of adults. It is one of the most common causes of permanent vision loss in an adult and often develops in childhood before the child is 5 years old. Crossed eyes or drifting eyes (also known as strabismus) is another leading cause of visual loss. Both of these conditions can often be treated if caught in time, usually in the first few years of life. Cataracts, eye tumors, retinal diseases, and ptosis (drooping eyelids) can also be present in children. Treatment for many of these conditions varies but can include glasses, patching and/or surgery. 

It is possible to examine and give glasses to newborn babies. In fact, most premature babies are seen in the hospital before discharge and up to 60% end up needing glasses before 1 year of age. Their proper development is often dependent on glasses. In addition, children born to parents who wore glasses at an early age are more likely to require glasses at an early age. Even if your child appears to have good vision, there are other reasons to have your child’s eyes checked. Children who have other underlying medical proiblems or a family history of eye problems should be checked by an ophthalmologist regularly. Some medical problems requiring ophthalmological exams include, but are not limited to, arthritis, diabetes, HIV/AIDS, leukemia, steroid dependent asthma, transplant patients, and patients on certain chronic medications In addition, children with the following disorders should have a baseline eye screening by an ophthalmologist: seizures, developmental delay, learning disabilities, squinting, head turn or tilt, irregular eye movements, or any other concerning problem. A child who has ANY crossing of one or both eyes either turning in or out, closes one eye to see, appears not to see or recognize near or distant images well should be seen by an appropriate eye care specialist. 

Don’t recommend weak reading glasses for children who do not have vision problems.
Low amounts of “farsightedness” is a normal finding in children. Most children can easily focus to see at near and distance because of their large accommodative (focusing) abilities, thereby making weak prescription glasses unnecessary – and often rejected by the child. Unless the eyes are crossing, a prescription of weak farsighted glasses is generally not necessary. 

You can take the copy to local optical shop to get the prescription filled by a licensed optician. It is very important to pick a pair that fits their face so it is not too loose or tight. There are 3 points you should keep in mind, the FRAME SIZE,  BRIDGE FIT, and the TEMPLE STYLE.  

1. FRAME SIZE- Finding  a size that suits your child by looking at how thick the lens will be,  the general rule of thumb is if your child has a high prescription, the larger the frame, the thicker the lens will be. It would be the best to avoid large frame. 

2. BRIDGE FIT- Children's noses are usually not fully developed in the early age so they do not have a bridge to keep their glasses from sliding down. Finding the right frames can be difficult yet doable. The adjustable nose pads with different range of designs are widely available nowadays. Contact local optical dispenser for advice. 

3.  TEMPLE STYLE- If your kids glasses keep falling off their faces, consider a strap over or silicone ear hooks over temple to help hold the glasses in place. 

MORE INFO NEEDED? Ask the staff and doctors on site!