When should your child get their eyes checked?

As a parent you may wonder if your child has good vision and also when you should get them checked. Early identification of a child's vision problem is crucial because children are more responsive to treatment when problems are diagnosed early. It is ideal to have the first check up by 6 months of age. If indicated however they may also be performed few days after birth. The reason for an examination at 6 months is because that is usually when children are able to fixate and follow objects. The next examination should be around 3 years of age and then 5 years (pre-school and primary school). Provided everything is normal, follow up every 2 years in case of no specific difficulty is advisable. A neglected eye problem can lead to poor school performance, poor social interaction and can have long term influence on your child’s life. With the influence of gadgets like smartphones and environmental factors, the incidence of eye problems in children are increasingly rapidly. Regular eye check up is a must to detect and treat any eye condition to prevent future difficulties.