Good eyesight essential to your children’s continuous learning and development. Vision irregularities may impede not only their academic performance but also how they socialize with others. This is why it’s a must they undergo eye exams regularly.
At Myopia Institute, we understand that an eye exam, or even just going to the clinic, can make yourchild feel nervous and uneasy. Here are things you can do to prepare them for a visit to the optometrist:
Don’t Leave Your Child in the Dark
Most of a child’s doctor-related anxieties develop because they were not aware they had to see an optometrist and why. While they may not fully understand the process, take the time and effort to inform your child beforehand about what might happen during the visit. Use instructional aids as appropriate for their age and learning abilities. You can also show them pictures of the clinic, the doctor, or the instruments he might see. Make it as fun and interesting as you can. This can help your children relax and gradually trust the process.
Prepare Yourself
Besides your kids, you should also prepare yourself. Do some research on the clinic. Visit their website and search for what kind of services they offer. Look for keywords, such as pediatric optometrist, family eye clinic or other similar terms. You may also call them and ask if they provide vision correction services for kids. Better yet, visit and see for yourself if the place is child-safe and friendly.
You may try meeting or talking personally with the eye doctors, as well. Doing so can help establish rapport between you and the eye care specialist. This can build your child’s trust with the optometrist too. Before the scheduled appointment, it’s best you list down things you want to ask the eye doctor about your child’s visual health. We also recommend preparing their medical history and relevant documents.
Stay by Your Child’s Side
After the eye exam, the eye doctor may create a treatment plan to improve or maintain your children’s eyesight. If results found signs of vision problems, for example, we may prescribe eyeglasses or develop a vision therapy program. We suggest helping your child choose a pair of glasses they like most or let them know what type of eye exercises they’ll be doing. Doing so makes the visit enjoyable for them, ensuring their better cooperation during the next appointment.
For more tips on making a visit to the optometrist easier for your kids, contact a local myopia control specialist in your area today.