The Parent Vision Guidebook

Here are the things I want you to do for each of your children to ensure they see as well as possible.

After your child is born, get an eye exam sometime before the age of one, generally between six moths and twelve months is best. You may use an Infantsee® provider to get one at no cost.
Before the child enters elementary school he will get a complete eye exam. In Kentucky the law requires this and studies have found that this has significantly improved school performance.
Get yearly eye exams for your child while they are in school. It is best to get these from a doctor who specializes in children’s vision.
Do NOT assume because you child can read the eye chart at the pediatrician’s office their vision is fine.
Similarly, do NOT believe that your child’s vision is fine because they passed a school screening.
Listen to your child’s teachers, if they notice a problem get it checked out. Do not wait to see if it gets better.
In the same vein, listen to your doctor’s advice, if you don’t like what a doctor says or the way he says it, feel free to find another doctor, however do not simply ignore the issue.
Be an advocate for your child’s vision, if there is a known problem ask for a report from the doctor, provide it to you child’s teachers and have it incorporated into an IEP (individual education plan) if your child has one.
If you don’t understand something a doctor says, ask them to clarify (this really applies to all doctors, not just eye doctors).
Read to/with your child, as they grow, this will help them develop a love of reading.

I am well aware I am preaching to the choir, if you are reading this you already are doing these things. So here is what I really want, I want you to share these ideas with your friends and family. I have a family member whose son has a vision issue, she found it much earlier than most and I am proud of her and he is going to be fine. I want you to help your friends and family do the same. So encourage them to get their child’s eyes checked regularly, refer them to this website and other resources, send them to a good eye doctor you know.

Thanks in advance for your help,

“Dodge”

William Dodge Perry, OD