Schedule Your Appointment

Vision Screenings Miss Vision Problems In 2 Out Of 3 Children

Vision guides so much of your baby's development, so it is important that vision is developing properly even early in life. Just like you take your child to the pediatrician to make sure all developmental milestones are being met, you should also take them to a pediatric optometrist to ensure that visual development is on track as well. Many new parents think that vision screenings at the pediatrician's office count as eye exams, but these screenings are not comprehensive vision exams.

A residency-trained pediatric optometrist has the skills and the knowledge to diagnose and manage conditions that can affect your child's vision, eyes, and development.

Why Should I Take My Baby To See An InfantSEE Provider?

Clinical experience and research have shown that at 6 months, the average child has reached a number of critical developmental milestones, making this an appropriate age for the first eye and vision assessment. Many visual abilities are fully functioning by the age of 6 months. Interference with development during this very critical phase may lead to serious lifelong effects on vision. Successful treatment can be obtained more quickly with early intervention.

An InfantSEE® assessment between six and 12 months of age is recommended to determine if an infant is at risk for eye or vision disorders. Since many eye problems arise from conditions that can be identified by an eye doctor in the infant’s first year of life, a parent can give an infant a great gift by seeking an InfantSEE® assessment in addition to the wellness evaluation of the eyes that is done by a pediatrician or family practice doctor.

1 in every 10 children is at risk from undiagnosed eye and vision problems

Yet only 13 percent of mothers with children younger than 2 years of age said they had taken their babies to see an eye and vision care professional for a regular check-up or well-care visit

Moreover, many children at risk for eye and vision problems are not being identified at an early age, when many of those problems might be prevented or more easily corrected. Some 4.02 million children were born in 2004, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. In approximately 4 percent, strabismus will develop, and amblyopia will develop in 3 percent–this equates to as many as 100,000 infants born each year who are at risk for serious eye and vision problems.

Early intervention is critical to successful and cost-effective treatment. Despite the nation’s present system of preschool vision screening, there exists a lack of understanding by the public of the importance of periodic professional eye and vision assessments. Unfortunately, during the course of their young lives, most children probably never see an eye care practitioner who can provide the kind of professional eye assessment necessary to identify critical eye and vision problems at an early stage, explain those conditions to parents, and provide the care necessary to correct those problems.

Questions To Ask When Choosing An Eye Doctor For Your Child

Is the doctor residency-trained in pediatrics?

Completing a residency is the best way for an optometrist to receive the specialized training it takes to work with infants, toddlers, and young children. Not all eye doctors have completed a residency, and even fewer have done so in the area of pediatrics. Be sure to ask where the doctor completed their residency in pediatrics.

Does the doctor participate in the InfantSEE program?

Not all doctors elect to participate in the InfantSEE program. In order for your baby's first eye exam (before 1 year of age) to be free of charge, the doctor must be an InfantSEE provider.

How often does the doctor see patients that are your child's age?

Optometrists see patients of all ages, however a pediatric optometrist who has completed a residency program in pediatrics sees far more infants, toddlers, and young children. Just as your child will see a pediatrician, they should also see a pediatric optometrist who has been residency-trained.

Does the doctor use age-appropriate equipment to test your child's eyes?

You may be asking yourself "how could a doctor possibly test my child's eyes when they have not even said their first word yet?". Eye exams for infants rely heavily on objective findings and behavioral responses. This is why it is so important for your baby to see a pediatric optometrist who is familiar with infants and has the equipment necessary to examine a child who does not yet know their numbers, letters, or who has not said their first word.

Does the exam test age-appropriate vision development beyond how well the child sees?

Developmental vision milestones are a major focus of an InfantSEE exam. In addition to determining your child's visual acuity (how clearly they see), their presciption, and whether or not any eye diseases are present, it is also important that the doctor be aware of vision development. Proper development of the visual system allows your child's overall development to take place.

Jill A. Kronberg, OD, FAAO: Residency-Trained Pediatric Optometrist

Idaho's best choice for pediatric eye care

Dr. Kronberg grew up in Wyoming before attending the University of Northern Colorado where she received a bachelor's of science in chemistry. Dr. Kronberg graduated from Southern California College of Optometry before pursuing a residency in pediatrics and primary care at the University of California, Berkeley.

Dr. Kronberg is the first residency trained pediatric optometrist in Idaho. Her areas of expertise include infant and toddler vision development, amblyopia, strabismus, and the specific visual conditions of the pediatric population - including those with special needs. Her experience brings specialized developmental pediatric vision care to Idaho.

Dr. Kronberg is a fellow of the American Academy of Optometry (FAAO) and a member of the American Optometric Association & Idaho Optometric Physicians.

Accepting new patients.

Schedule your appointment with Dr. Kronberg or call us at 208.377.8899.