According to experts, 80% of learning is visual, which means that if your child is having difficulty seeing clearly, his or her learning can be affected. This also goes for infants who develop and learn about the world around them through their sense of sight. To ensure that your children have the visual resources they need to grow and develop normally, their eyes and vision should be checked by an eye doctor at certain stages of their development.

According to the American Optometric Association, children should have eye exams following the recommendations below. 

• At 6 months of age
• At 3 years of age 
• Before entering first grade (6 years old) 
• A yearly eye exam if they need glasses 
• A bi-annual eye exam if they do not need glasses

One of the questions our Gilbert Optometrist receives is, "If my child does not need glasses, why do they need an eye exam?" 

Our optometrist, Dr. Woolf explains "A comprehensive eye exam is like a physical that assesses all aspects of your eye health and performance. A child may pass a vision screening and may not even need glasses, however, they may have a visual issue that affects their reading or ability to learn. In addition, a child may not need eyeglasses, however, they may show early signs of myopia (nearsightedness/shortsightedness), which while not impacting their current need for glasses, is crucial to address with myopia control, in order to reduce risks of eye disease as they age. Lastly, an eye exam also covers preventative aspects of eye health such as protection from UV, protection from blue light, and preventing computer vision syndrome. " 

Learn more about eye exams for children in Gilbert. 

Did you know your optometrist can help you with red eyes, pink eye, or sore eyes, foreign body removal, and eye emergencies? 

Most people assume that if you have an eye emergency you must rush to an emergency room or an urgent care facility. While in certain situations that is correct, in most situations, an optometrist has more experience and better technology to address most common eye emergencies. 

So if you are experiencing any of the following call our Gilbert Eye Care Center today: 

• Sudden flashes or floaters in your vision 
• Severe eye pain 
• Bleeding in your eye 
• A cut or scratch in your eye 
• Contact lens stuck in the eye 
• Sand, dirt, bugs, or small items stuck in the eye 
• Chemicals spilled in the eye 
• Bruised or black eye 
• Eye infections or pink eye
• Severe dry eye or eye allergies 
• A pimple or stye in the eye or eyelid area

Learn more about emergency eye care in Gilbert.