A child's vision is critical to their development and learning. Yet, many parents are unsure when to schedule that first trip to the optometrist.

The Recommended Timeline:
The American Optometric Association recommends that infants have their first comprehensive eye exam at 6 months of age. After that, they should have their eyes examined at age 3 and just before they enter kindergarten or first grade (around age 5 or 6).

Why so early?
Early exams ensure that your child's eyes are developing normally. We check for issues like nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, lazy eye (amblyopia), and crossed eyes (strabismus). Catching these conditions early makes them much easier to treat and prevents lifelong vision issues.

Signs your child might have a vision problem:
- Frequent eye rubbing or blinking
- Short attention span
- Avoiding reading or other close activities
- Frequent headaches
- Covering one eye
- Tilting the head to one side
- Holding reading materials close to the face

Don't wait for your child to complain about their vision—often, they don't know what "normal" vision looks like!