Pediatric eye care
Pediatric Eye Care Guide exams, treatment and eyewear for children.
Children are a recurring patient base: the AOA recommends exams from infancy and every year from first grade through age 17. These guides cover the exam schedule, amblyopia and binocular vision treatment, and the eyewear that keeps kids safe.
Quick answer
Examine on schedule, treat what you find.
Follow the AOA exam schedule, partner with pediatricians on failed screenings, treat amblyopia and convergence insufficiency with evidence-based options, and dispense impact-resistant eyewear. Myopia management, covered in its own section, rounds out the pediatric service.
Key takeaways
- First exam at 6 to 12 months, at least one at ages 3 to 5, then yearly from first grade.
- InfantSEE offers a no-cost infant assessment through participating optometrists.
- Two hours of daily patching matched six hours for moderate amblyopia in PEDIG.
- Office-based therapy is best supported for convergence insufficiency.
- Federal rules require impact-resistant lenses; AAPOS recommends polycarbonate.
Guides in this section.
Five pediatric guides, plus myopia management.
Pediatric Eye Exams
The AOA schedule, InfantSEE and how screening and exams differ.
Amblyopia and Strabismus Guide
Glasses, patching, atropine and digital therapies.
Convergence Insufficiency
CITT and CITT-ART results, symptoms and coverage.
Binocular Vision Therapy Guide
Service model, codes 92065 and 92066, payer policies.
Pediatric Eyewear Guide
Impact resistance, polycarbonate and fit.
Myopia Control Guide
Myopia management options for children.
Pediatric care by age.
Built from the AOA schedule and the guides in this section.
| Age | Exam | Common focus |
|---|---|---|
| 6 to 12 months | First comprehensive exam or InfantSEE assessment | Eye health, alignment, large refractive errors |
| 3 to 5 years | At least one comprehensive exam | Amblyopia and strabismus |
| Before first grade | Comprehensive exam | Reading readiness, binocular vision |
| 6 to 17 years | Annual exams | Myopia, binocular vision, sports and eyewear |
Book the next annual exam before the family leaves. Pediatric recall depends on the parent's calendar, and a booked appointment beats a reminder card.
Frequently asked questions
How often should children have eye exams?
The AOA recommends exams at 6 to 12 months, at least once at 3 to 5 years, before first grade and annually through age 17.
Is a pediatrician screening enough?
No. Screening identifies children who need an exam; it does not replace one.
What amblyopia treatments are available?
Glasses, patching, atropine penalization and FDA-cleared digital therapies, depending on the child.
Is vision therapy evidence-based?
For convergence insufficiency, yes, based on the CITT randomized trial. Claims about reading or learning are not supported by CITT-ART.
What lens material should children wear?
AAPOS recommends polycarbonate, and federal rules require impact-resistant lenses in all eyeglasses.
Are there patient pages I can share?
Yes. Vision Rescue has plain-language pages for parents on pediatric eye exams and vision therapy at visionrescue.com.
References
- American Optometric Association. Comprehensive eye exams: recommended examination frequency. AOA
- Repka MX, et al. A randomized trial of patching regimens for treatment of moderate amblyopia in children. Arch Ophthalmol. 2003;121(5):603-611. PubMed
- Convergence Insufficiency Treatment Trial Study Group. Randomized clinical trial of treatments for symptomatic convergence insufficiency in children. Arch Ophthalmol. 2008;126(10):1336-1349. PubMed
- American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus. Glasses for children. AAPOS
- Every source used across these guides is listed on the Vision Rescue sources page.
About this guide
Written for licensed eye care practices by the Vision Rescue team. Questions: providers@visionrescue.com or 1-855-692-8024.
Important notes and disclosures
Information only, not clinical or legal advice. Product names are trademarks of their owners and appear for identification; Vision Rescue does not endorse or review them. Scope of practice, coverage and coding rules vary by state and payer, so confirm locally. Clinical decisions rest with the treating eye doctor.
Build a practice families grow up with.
Yearly exams, evidence-based treatment and safe eyewear turn one child visit into years of care.