Eyes are one of the most important and sensitive organs of the body for us. With the changing lifestyle when people are spending more and more time in front of the screen, there has been a rising issue of eye problems and the latest victim of this are the children. From a tender age, children are exposed to an on-screen environment which seems to be damaging their eyesight. In such cases, it is important that one had to contact children’s optometrist.
People often confuse between pediatric ophthalmologist and optometrist. From a lay man’s language, both are eye doctors who specialize in eyes. Both are known to examine the eyes, diagnose ailments and prescribe glasses in case some eye correction is required. Still, it is different. The basic difference between them is while the first categories of doctors are basically surgeons who can operate on the eye if required, the optometrist is attuned to the functional and developmental aspect of the eye.
They are known to use a varied range of prisms and vision therapy mechanisms to enhance the visual or eyesight of the child. A child often needs to visit an optometrist to basically improve his visual ability, academic and so on.
How to choose the right optometrist for your kid?
Visiting a children’s optometrist ensures that their eyesight is fine and there is no additional damage to the eyes. Well, for the right reports, it becomes important that you must contact the right optometrist. Here are a few things to keep in mind, when looking for a Children’s Optometrist.
Also Read: What is Short-sightedness (Myopia) Control?
#1 – Someone who is good with kids:
Handling the kids is a daunting task. A child has his/her own fear and visiting a doctor can be a nightmare for many kids, in such cases if you are able to find a doctor who is cordial and jovial with the kids and is able to convince them to forget their fear, then he/she is the right person for a job.
#2 – Ask for recommendation:
Before making a visit to a children’s optometrist it is important that you must look for recommendation and their reputation. You can ask for a suggestion from your friends and relatives and if you are new to this, then probably making a visit to the optometrist clinic can be a good move.
#3 – Check Availability:
When looking for the perfect children’s optometrist it is important to find one who is relatively available. Children might not understand the issue or ailments at one go as a result, there might be a scenario when the child has to visit the doctor a number of times. Hence it makes sense to go for one who is accessible and available. While zeroing down your options, make sure you check that the optometrist is available in case of emergencies and over the call.
#4 – See if you need Development Optometrist:
When looking for a children’s optometrist, it is important to see if the child has any issues and needs special attention. There are various development optometrists who have a special skill set to help kids who need occupational therapy or need some extra attention. If the child needs special attention, then it is advisable to opt for a development optometrist who has the required expertise to look into these cases.
The Bottom Line:
The above-mentioned parameters help you to shortlist a good and professional child’s optometrist. They must have the right degrees and must be registered with the local association. All these are a mark of their authenticity and professionalism. With a bit of awareness and the right approach, you would surely be able to find the right children’s optometrist.
