Yes. A comprehensive eye exam tests vision but also monitors eye health. The AOA recommends that the first comprehensive eye examination, including dilation of the pupils with eye drops to examine the peripheral internal structures of the eyes, should occur at age 1, and then again at ages 3 and 5, if no problems are detected. This is a much more extensive examination of the eyes than that received by your child at the school nurse’s office, or even at the pediatrician’s office.
Children age 5 and older should receive a yearly comprehensive eye exam, even if they do not wear any glasses, and even if they do not have any vision complaints. Some children have trouble staying on-task while doing homework. This may be a sign that the child is struggling through a vision problem and needs Study Glasses for homework time. Remember: Up to 80% of learning is visual. Kids who don’t see well (or who don’t efficiently process visual information) do not have a fair chance to do well in school.
