Have you had your baby's eyes checked? A new survey by the American
Optometric Association (AOA) has found that 29 percent of children have
never been to the eye doctor, even though experts say it's a good idea
to have your child's eyes examined by an eye doctor every two years,
starting at around 6 months. "Expecting a complete eye exam during a
well-baby checkup is like saying a pediatrician will check for
cavities, too," says Andrea Thau, OD, of the AOA. "Your pediatrician
will catch big problems such as crossed eyes or nearsightedness during
a routine checkup, but an eye specialist will spot problems such as
blurry or double vision or astigmatism, especially in babies, who
aren't able to talk." Early eye exams are especially important because
they can head off potential learning problems. The survey also found
that 44 percent of parents don't realize that behavioral problems can
be an indication that a child's vision may be impaired. Below are some
other ways to keep kids' eyes healthy.