How Often Does a Baby Need to Have an Eye Exam?

Your baby’s eyes develop rapidly in the first few years of life, laying the foundation for how they see and learn about the world. Regular eye exams help ensure their vision progresses as it should and allow early detection of issues that may affect learning, behavior, and overall development.
 

The Importance of Early Pediatric Eye Care

Strong vision skills are essential for crawling, walking, reading, and comprehension. Many developmental milestones rely on healthy eyesight, and early intervention makes a significant difference.

Untreated vision problems in babies and toddlers can lead to:

• Delayed developmental milestones

• Learning challenges

• Difficulty with balance and coordination

• Long-term vision complications
 

When Should a Baby Have Their First Eye Exam?

The American Optometric Association recommends that babies receive their first comprehensive eye exam between 6 and 12 months old. Even if no obvious vision problems are present, this exam plays a crucial role in evaluating early eye development.

During this visit, your child’s eye doctor will check for:

• Healthy eye alignment

• Proper visual response

• Signs of near- or farsightedness

• Focus ability

• Early indicators of eye conditions such as lazy eye or congenital issues

Because babies cannot communicate discomfort or vision difficulties, these early evaluations allow doctors to identify concerns long before symptoms appear.
 

Toddler and Preschool Eye Exam Recommendations

After the initial exam at 6-12 months, children should have their next comprehensive eye exam at age 3. This stage of development is critical for detecting issues that may impact depth perception, hand-eye coordination, or early learning.

A follow-up exam is recommended again before starting kindergarten, around age 5. This ensures your child enters school with the visual skills needed for reading, writing, and classroom success.

These appointments become even more important if you notice:

• Frequent eye rubbing

• Squinting or covering one eye

• Trouble focusing on faces or objects

• Excessive tearing or eye discharge

• Lack of interest in age-appropriate visual activities
 

Schedule a Pediatric Eye Exam in Lakeland, FL

Babies should have their first eye exam between 6-12 months, with follow-up visits at age 3 and before starting school. These early checks help ensure your child’s vision develops properly and that any concerns are identified and treated early. Dr. Garibay and his team are here to guide your family every step of the way with trusted, gentle pediatric care.

Schedule a pediatric eye exam at Swan City Eye Care to give your child the best possible start with clear and healthy vision. Visit our office in Lakeland, Florida, or call (863) 323-7525 to book an appointment today.