Optometrists use toys, lights to check the eye health of infants

January 8, 2010

Infants can develop vision problems that are nearly impossible to detect, according to KIDK.com, a CBS affiliate.

Because babies can't communicate, an eye care professionals must employ special diagnostic techniques to determine if their vision is developing correctly, or if special therapies or eyeglasses are required.

Dr Cody Jones, an optometrist at Complete Family Eye Care, told the news source "When we talk to parents most of them are surprised that we can actually do an exam on an infant."

The doctor told the news source that he uses toys and lights to check for eye health problems like lazy eye, cataracts and cancer.

Because only an eye doctor can conclusively determine the eye health of a child, the American Optometric Association (AOA) suggests that parents bring their baby in for an eye exam when the infant is between six and twelve months old.

The AOA reports that healthy eyes and good vision from a young age are vital to the developmental health of a child.

Parents should be on the lookout for signs of vision problems, such as excessive tearing, red eyelids or an extreme sensitivity to light.