Children’s Eye Exams

Clear Vision, Bright Future: Healthy Eyes Are Key to Your Child’s Success

We know you want the best for your child—academically, socially, and athletically. Good vision can make a meaningful impact on their success in these areas.

Clear vision and strong eye coordination can enhance a child’s ability to learn, explore, and engage in activities like sports, adding enjoyment to everyday moments.

That’s why we’re passionate about reminding families to include regular eye exams in their back-to-school checklist, even if they don’t need glasses. It’s a simple step that can set your child up for success in every part of their life.

Book your kid’s next eye exam at Desert Valley Eye Care today.

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When Should Your Child Have an Eye Exam?

The American Optometric Association recommends the following eye exam schedule:

Birth to 2 years: Schedule a comprehensive exam between 6–12 months old.
3 to 5 years: Make sure your child has at least 1 eye exam before preschool.
6 to 17 years: Book an exam before starting first grade, then make it an annual habit.

How often your child needs an eye exam depends on their needs. For example, kids with nearsightedness (myopia) often notice more frequent vision changes.

Clear Vision, Bright Future: Healthy Eyes Are Key to Your Child’s Success

Early detection of eye conditions in children is important for their development. Undetected and untreated eye problems can significantly delay a child’s visual development and impact their learning. Undetected or untreated vision problems can have long-term consequences for their quality of life.

Dr. Mounts, one of our experienced eye doctors at Desert Valley Eye Care, specializes in working with children with visually-related learning problems and has completed a vision therapy residency.

If you have any concerns about your child’s vision, please schedule a comprehensive eye exam.

Myopia (Nearsightedness)

Kids with myopia, also called nearsightedness or shortsightedness, have trouble seeing things far away. This can make it hard for them to read the school board, watch TV, or even enjoy playing sports.

Nearsightedness isn’t just a one-time issue—it’s a progressive condition, meaning it can get worse over time. That’s why keeping an eye on your child’s vision with regular checkups is so important.

Strabismus (Crossed Eyes)

Strabismus occurs when your eyes aren’t properly aligned, which can lead to double vision, eye strain, and trouble with depth perception. Often called “crossed eyes,” the misalignment or “eye turn” isn’t always obvious—it can be so subtle that only a thorough eye exam can detect it.

Strabismus is treated with a combination of approaches, including glasses, eye exercises (vision therapy), and, in severe cases, eye muscle surgery.

Amblyopia (Lazy Eye)

Amblyopia is a condition where one eye doesn’t develop normal vision despite having no apparent structural problems. The brain may favor the stronger eye, causing the weaker eye to become “lazy” and lose its ability to see clearly.

Amblyopia is treated by strengthening the “weaker” eye with exercises (vision therapy).

Let’s Help Your Child See the World At Its Best

Kids don’t always know when something’s wrong with their vision—how can they compare if they’ve never seen things differently? Whether it’s blurry vision, trouble focusing on schoolwork, sitting too close to screens, or frequent headaches and eye discomfort, these issues can often go unnoticed.

Regular eye exams can make a big difference, helping kids see clearly and comfortably, while teaching them about their eyes in a fun, engaging way. Early detection and treatment can have a huge impact on your child’s vision, development, and overall quality of life.

Let’s help your child see the world at its best. Schedule their routine eye exam today.

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Our Location

You can find us in the shopping center at the corner of W Clearwater Avenue and S Louisiana Street Way. Free parking is available just steps from our entrance.