Finding a capable, friendly doctor for yourself can be difficult. Every parent knows that selecting a doctor for your kids is an even more stressful process. If you’re in the process of choosing a children’s eye doctor for your kids, you’re probably wondering how to be sure that you’ve found the right one. Eye care is an important part of overall health, and a great eye doctor can teach healthy, lifelong habits. Read on to learn more about what to look for when choosing an eye doctor!
An Early Start
Most eye care professionals recommend that children receiving eye exams—usually from a family doctor or pediatrician—when they are six months old. These tests use simple tests to ensure that your child’s eyes are tracking properly and responding to light.
As the child gets older, however, more serious vision issues can develop unnoticed. Since children don’t usually realize when their vision is blurry or impaired, many parents do not believe their kids have any eye problems. One in every four children has a serious vision problem, such as myopia, but only half of all children younger than 12 have never visited an eye doctor.
The Right Choice
When choosing a children’s eye doctor, your first task to select the right type of doctor.
An Optometrist is a medical professional trained in eye care and diagnosis of eye-related conditions. They conduct eye exams, diagnose and treat diseases of the eye, and provide prescriptions for vision corrections like glasses and contacts. Some Optometrists also specialize in the ways that vision impacts child development. They are uniquely equipped to improve visual performance, which can often help kids succeed in school, sports, and other activities—or to treat issues like pink eye or cataracts.
A Good Relationship
A good children’s eye doctor should always take every step to ensure that their young patients are comfortable and cooperative during the exam. This process looks different for each child. Younger children may be frightened of the equipment, while older children may resist questions about their health.
As the parent, be sure to watch the way that your child interacts with the doctor. Do they appear at ease, willingly making conversation and responding to questions? Do they easily comply with the doctor’s requests?
You should also pay attention to the way that the doctor treats your child. Do they give your child an appropriate amount of time to respond to any questions or directions? Do they explain what they are doing throughout every stage of the exam process? Do they treat your child’s questions with respect? If you are able to answer an enthusiastic “yes” to all of these questions, then you have probably succeeded in choosing a children’s eye doctor!
Contact Us
Over the past 30 years, Dr. Barry Leonard and his staff have earned a reputation as one of the best children’s optometry offices in the San Fernando Valley. Dr. Leonard always makes sure to explain his cool equipment, crack a few silly jokes, and keep kids relaxed and comfortable during their exams. If you’re concerned about choosing a children’s eye doctor, worry no longer! Contact Dr. Leonard’s office at 818-891-6711 to learn more!
