Pediatric Eye Care

Routine pediatric eye care is an easy, effective way to protect your child’s eyes and vision. At Vistasite Eye Care of Kings Plaza Mall in the Mill Basin neighborhood of Brooklyn in New York City, board-certified optometrists Gary Eppel, OD, and Dmitri Bondarenko, OD, offer a full suite of pediatric eye care services, including pediatric eye exams and treatment of common pediatric eye problems. Call Vistasite Eye Care of Kings Plaza Mall today to schedule your child’s pediatric eye care appointment or book online.

When should I schedule pediatric eye care for my child?

The Vistasite Eye Care of Kings Plaza Mall team encourages all parents to schedule pediatric eye care for children aged 3-5, even if there aren’t signs of a problem. The eyes grow rapidly during childhood, so routine checkups can ensure your child is meeting all of their developmental milestones. 

Your child might benefit from an earlier eye exam if you have a family history of developmental cataracts, pediatric glaucoma, or retinal disorders. 

What types of problems does pediatric eye care diagnose?

The Vistasite Eye Care of Kings Plaza Mall team uses pediatric eye care to diagnose various eye problems, including:

• Amblyopia (lazy eye)
• Astigmatism
• Farsightedness
• Nearsightedness
• Childhood tearing (epiphora)
• Cortical vision impairment (a type of vision loss)
• Double vision
• Genetic eye disease
• Nystigmatism (involuntary eye movements)
• Pediatric cataract
• Pediatric glaucoma
• Retinal disorders
• Pediatric ptosis (eyelid drooping)

Your child can benefit from pediatric eye care if they have strabismus or crossed eyes.

What does a pediatric eye care visit involve?

The pediatric optometrists at Vistasite Eye Care of Kings Plaza Mall tailor pediatric eye care to each child’s needs, but appointments typically follow a similar outline.

Your child’s provider reviews their medical records and asks you (the parent) about your concerns. Because infants and toddlers can’t verbally explain their symptoms, the team uses matching games, pictures, and diagnostic imaging to assess your child’s vision and check for underlying problems. 

They complete several screens, measuring your child’s eye pressure and checking their eye muscle function. They also examine your child’s pupils, retinas, tear ducts, and other ocular components, looking for issues affecting their vision.

Some of these exams require your child’s provider to dilate their eyes with special eye drops. These eye drops can cause blurry vision and make your child’s eyes more light-sensitive. They may need to wear sunglasses after their exam as a result. 

Your child’s optometrist develops a personalized treatment plan if they identify problems like nearsightedness, farsightedness, or strabismus. Most pediatric eye problems can be managed with eyeglasses, at-home eye exercises, prescription eye drops, and/or surgery. 

Call Vistasite Eye Care of Kings Plaza Mall today to schedule pediatric eye care for your child, or book an appointment online.