Pediatric Eye Care

Proper eye care is essential to prevent and address early eye problems in children. At Serenity I Care in Hartford, Connecticut, Barbara Dune, OD, and the team provide exceptional pediatric eye care that can help protect your child’s vision and eye health as they age. From performing regular eye exams to correcting refractive disorders, the team delivers the eye care your child deserves. Call the optometry clinic today or schedule an appointment online to learn more.

What is pediatric eye care?

Pediatric eye care is an area in optometry that focuses on preventing, diagnosing, and treating eye problems in children. The optometrists at Serenity I Care perform comprehensive screenings to assess your child’s vision and eye health. 

They recommend that children have their first eye exam at six months and return around ages two or three. Children should undergo additional exams once they reach school age.

Why is pediatric eye care important?

Since children’s eyes are still developing, they’re vulnerable to certain infections and eye diseases that can impair their vision and damage their eye health. Pediatric eye care allows the team at Serenity I Care to diagnose and treat eye problems in children early before they progress.

What are the signs my child needs a pediatric eye care specialist?

Some children should see a specialist more frequently than others. If your child shows any signs of eye problems, schedule an appointment with one of the pediatric eye care specialists at Serenity I Care:

• Tilting their head to one side
• Squinting frequently
• Reading too closely
• Holding objects close to their face to see more clearly
• Visibly crossed eyes
• Avoiding using one eye
• Difficulty reading
• Swapping letters when reading
• Complaining of eye pain or headaches

Compile a list of symptoms to bring to your child’s pediatric eye exam to ensure the team has the information they need to make an informed diagnosis.

What types of problems can pediatric eye care address?

Pediatric eye care can address many common eye problems in children, such as:

Refractive disorders

Refractive errors occur when the cornea or lens isn’t the right shape, so light can’t focus into the retina properly. Nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism are the most common types of refractive disorders in children.

Lazy eye

Lazy eye, or amblyopia, occurs when one eye points outward or inward, while the other remains in a straight position.

Crossed eyes

Also called strabismus, crossed eyes are a condition similar to amblyopia. However, in this case, both eyes point inward, outward, or in different directions.

Conjunctivitis (pink eye)

Pink eye is an infection of the conjunctiva, the membrane that covers the eyeball and the tissue inside the eyelid. Serenity I Care provides emergency eye care for infections like conjunctivitis.

Call Serenity I Care today or schedule an appointment online to learn more about pediatric eye care.