Regular eye exams are a crucial aspect of maintaining a child's overall health and development, especially during the toddler years. While it's common for parents to prioritize other medical checkups, such as vaccinations and dental visits, the importance of eye exams for toddlers should not be overlooked.
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If it’s been recommended that your child wears glasses, it’s best to “select a flexible, properly fitting, and safe eyeglass frame with or without a strap.” Additionally, Dr. Cho says that having the child share their input on the frame and color can make them “receptive to wearing their glasses.” Despite this, she acknowledges that getting your little one to wear their glasses can still be a hassle and recommends slowly increasing the time they wear them while also extending positive reinforcement. She also offered a rule for parents to teach their kids about protecting their glasses when they aren’t wearing them: “When not on face, in the case.”
If you’re still seeking additional information about understanding your child’s visual development, Dr. Cho recommends aaomc.org/what-is-myopia, mykidsvision.org, and seeyourabiliti.com.
