Children’s Eye Exams | Prairie Vision Center of Bondurant |

Focusing on Your Family

It’s never too early to focus on your children’s eye health and vision. Their sense of sight is important at every age and every stage of development.

Our optometrists are experienced with children and can put them at ease. Many kids even think their eye exams are fun! And, if your child does need glasses, we offer a wide selection of colors and styles that will make them smile.

We aim to make your child’s first eye exam a positive and stress-free experience, so we typically avoid using drops during that visit. If dilation is necessary, we’ll schedule a second visit later in the day, after school, so your child can relax and take a nap right after.

And, of course, we don’t use the dreaded air puff test!

Book their appointment today to set them up for success—and a lifetime of healthy vision.

Valuable Visual Skills

Children aren’t born with the visual skills they need—they develop them over time.

Good visual skills can help set your child up for success. Whether it’s reading, interacting with other kids, throwing a ball around, or seeing what the teacher writes on the board, eyesight is involved.

Children who start school with undiagnosed vision problems may struggle to keep up in class. They may be misdiagnosed with ADHD or another behavioral disorder.

Undiagnosed vision problems can also lead to:

Learning at a slower rate than their peers
Behavioral and disciplinary problems
Higher risk of dropping out of school

When Do Children Need Eye Exams?

The American Optometric Association recommends that children have:

A comprehensive exam to establish a baseline between the ages of 6 and 12 months

Another comprehensive exam as they grow and develop between the ages of 3 and 5

Annual, comprehensive exams starting before 1st grade and continuing until adulthood

Nearsightedness (myopia) is most likely to develop during school growth spurts—typically in 3rd, 7th, and 10th grade. Learn more about our myopia control options.

Proper vision can be beneficial for your child’s success—in life and academics. Beyond just seeing what’s in front of them at school, visual skills are needed for social, cognitive, and motor skills development.

Children’s eye exams are different from adults. We focus on making the experience comfortable and engaging, meeting kids where they are. And yes, we can tell if your child is asking for glasses without actually needing them!

It’s important to keep a close eye on your child’s vision, especially around the age you first needed glasses (or should have). Kids often follow their parents’ lead, so monitoring their vision during these years can help catch any issues early.

Stages of Sight

There are many milestones in a baby’s visual progression. Here’s what to expect at some critical stages:

Birth to 4 Months: Your baby’s vision is improving rapidly at this stage. They should be focusing on nearby objects and faces, and begin to reach for things.
5 to 8 Months: A 3-dimensional view of the world begins to form, as does color vision.
9 to 12 Months: Babies begin to grasp objects and can judge distances.
1 to 2 Years: Hand-eye coordination and depth perception should be well-developed.

As babies grow and develop, you can help encourage their healthy visual development by playing games with them. Use games like peek-a-boo and patty-cake, provide objects that can be explored with the hands and grasped, and play games that include dropping things and picking them up.

To help your child develop healthy visual skills, be sure to bring them in for comprehensive eye exams.

Fun fact! Did you know that most babies are born with blue eyes, but their “official” color will be solidified by the time they are one year old?

How Do I Know if My Child Needs Glasses?

It can be tough to know if your child needs glasses since kids often don’t realize there’s a problem with their vision. Unlike adults, they haven’t established a baseline for what clear vision should look like.

Signs of a vision issue might not always be obvious. Children may experience fatigue, difficulty concentrating, or struggle to keep their place while reading—yet avoid reading altogether. Nearsighted kids may not report trouble seeing the board because they assume everyone sees it as blurry as they do and often won’t mention it until a teacher notices and brings it to a parent’s attention.

Even if your child seems to want glasses simply because their friend has them, it’s still worth bringing them in for an eye exam. We can easily tell the difference between a child who truly needs glasses and one who just wants them. Kids may not be the best at hiding things, and our tests reveal inconsistencies that show us what’s really going on.

By bringing your child in for regular eye exams, we can establish their visual baseline and spot any issues early. This helps them get the right support, whether it’s glasses or other personalized care. Don’t wait until the problem becomes obvious—book their appointment today!

Let's See What Your Child Is Really Seeing!