Pediatric Eye Care

Pediatric eye exams for children in Charlotte, NC

Pediatric ophthalmologists are medical and surgical doctors who specialize in the eye problems of children. In particular, vision develops in the brain until about 9 years of age and can be affected by eyes that are not straight or do not focus correctly. A child can grow up with good vision in each eye if these problems are caught early, treated and maintained.

Schedule a Pediatric Eye Appointment at CEENTA

What to expect at your child's pediatric eye care visit

A child's vision exam is as detailed as adult exams, if not more so. We want to give each child the time and attention that he or she deserves, so please allow 2 hours for a new patient exam.

The exam

• After checking in at the front desk, you will be brought to the exam room by a technician. They will ask questions about your child’s vision at home and in school, ask which other doctors care for your child, and review any other medical conditions your child may have. If your child wears glasses, they will ask if your child is wearing them regularly.
• the technician will perform a few basic eye tests. If your child is old enough, they will cover one of his or her eyes and ask them to read letters or pictures of different sizes to determine your child’s vision in each eye individually.
• The next step is to check your child’s depth perception. Your child will put on special glasses and look at a specially-designed book to see if any of the images “look 3D” or “pop up” out of the page. They may also check the color vision by looking at colored shapes of numbers. After that, the technician will use a small light to make sure the pupils react normally. The technician may check your child’s eye pressure. While the device they use gets very close to the eye, it doesn’t hurt.
• Additional testing may be necessary if your child has strabismus, misaligned or “crossed” eyes, in order to measure the misalignment with a prism held in front of the eyes.
• Eye drops will be given to your child to dilate his or her pupils. This is an important part of the exam that will allow your doctor to examine the inside of the eye and determine if your child needs glasses. You will then return to the waiting room. These eye drops take 20-45 minutes to take effect.
• You will return to the exam room to see the doctor and complete the exam. Your doctor will then discuss the results of the exam and determine what kind of care is needed. Many children do not need any special treatment for their eyes, but some children benefit from wearing glasses, using medication, wearing a patch over one eye, or performing eye exercises. In some situations, surgery may be recommended.

After the exam

The dilating eye drops are not harmful and will wear off in about 12-24 hours. Sunglasses may help your child be more comfortable leaving the clinic if it is sunny outside. School-age children may find that their vision is blurred when holding reading material close to their face.

Common Pediatric Eye Conditions

• Strabismus (eye misalignment)
• Amblyopia (poor vision in one eye, also known as “lazy eye”)
• Near-sightedness, far-sightedness, and astigmatism (reasons a child may need glasses)
• Nasolacrimal duct obstruction (blocked tear duct)
• Chalazion (stye)

Pediatric Optical Shop

At CEENTA, we offer more than just pediatric eye exams. Our optical shop has a wide variety of glasses to meet your child’s needs. A child’s face is different from an adult’s, so our opticians are trained in finding glasses that will fit perfectly on your child. We also offer more than just regular glasses, such as:

• Protective sports glasses
• Prescription swim goggles
• Contact lenses (for teenagers)

Children can be rough on their glasses, so be sure to ask the optician about a warranty.

Why CEENTA is the best place for your child's pediatric eye exam

• Our pediatric ophthalmologists have all completed fellowship training to examine and treat pediatric vision problems, including in children with special needs.
• We like to make pediatric vision exams a fun experience that is comfortable for both children and their families.
• CEENTA has pediatric ophthalmologists in SouthPark, Belmont, Blakeney, Huntersville, Matthews, Statesville, and University, so premier care is conveniently available throughout the region.

Schedule a Pediatric Eye Appointment at CEENTA