PEDIATRIC EYE CARE

Dr. Affleck offers pediatric eye care.  This means he treats patients from infants to adults.  Children are comfortable around Dr. Affleck. He laughs and plays with them until they feel calm in his present. He examines them on their parent’s lap so they feel safe.  Dr. Affleck can exam children even before they can talk and tell them what they see.  This is important because children don’t always understand or can explain their vision problems.

OUR SPECIAL “VISIT THE OFFICE” TOUR

If your child is uncomfortable at hospitals or medical clinics, please let us know. We will schedule a FREE special “visit the office.”  Your child will have the opportunity to:

  • Look around the office.
  • Talk with our ophthalmic tech in an exam room.
  • Sit in our exam chair.
  • Be shown the special equipment we use and play a quick light game.
  • Lastly, we will give your child a coloring packet.  It helps them become familiar with the icons they are ask to identify during their visit.

WHAT PARENTS AND OTHERS CAN DO BEFORE A VISIT

Visits at the office can go smoother with the following tips:

Talk positive about seeing Dr. Affleck and how important it is that your child does what Dr. Affleck asks. Explain what will happen so your child is prepared.

TALK ABOUT SITTING STILL AND OPENING THEIR EYES WIDE WHEN DR. AFFLECK ASKS.

First, explain how to sit still and opening their eyes.  Next, show them how Dr. Affleck will come close their eye, but how it will not hurt.  Lastly, role play with your child.  Take turns being the patient and then Dr. Affleck.  Have fun and laugh.

BRING SPECIAL TOYS

Bring special toys that your child rarely gets to play.  These toys are allowed when calmly waiting for the doctor.  This makes your time more relaxed too!

SCHEDULE AT THE RIGHT TIME

Please avoid scheduling your visit during normal nap or meal times.  If they are feeling ill, reschedule.

A child with a pediatric eye doctor serving Idaho Fall, ID
Little girl holding hands with man while walking away
Little girl getting her eyes checked
Little girl and mother visiting an ophthalmologist

YOUR CHILD'S

EYE CARE SCREENING/EXAM SCHEDULE

Regular eye screens (and/or comprehensive eye exams) ensure your child’s visual system develops correctly over time.   Your child’s vision screening must be preformed by an ophthalmologist, pediatrician, family physician, or other properly trained health care provider.  For more details read Eye Screening For Children

Newborn

  • A doctor or other trained health professional should examine a newborn’s eyes.
  • An ophthalmologist should do a comprehensive exam if the baby is premature, has an eye disease or family is known to have childhood eye diseases.

Babies 6 to 12 Months

  • Your pediatrician should preform another screening.
  • Test should include: Red reflex, blink and pupiled response.
  • Additionally, visually inspect of the eyes should be performed also with eye alignment and movement.

Children 12 to 36 Months

  • Your child’s pediatrician should have the equipment or skills identify problems like amblyopia.
  • A common test is a "photoscreening" test. These pictures help find problems.
  • Your child should be referred to Dr. Affleck is eye misalignment is found, even if not constant.

Children 3 to 5 years

  • Insurances rarely cover an comprehensive eye exam by an ophthalmologist without prior vision concerns. However, eye alignment and vision errors are successfully treated when diagnosed early.
  • Your child should be examined by Dr. Affleck during the ages of 3-5 to out rule any issues.

Children ages 5+

  • children at age 5 should have a screening for vision problems and eye alignment.
  • If misalignment of the eyes or signs of other eye problems are identified in the screening a comprehensive eye exam should be preformed by Dr. Affleck
Children should be examine by Dr. Affleck when...
  • Your child fails a vision screening.
  • Your child's vision screening is inconclusive or cannot be done.
  • Your child has a vision complaint.
  • Your child has other medical conditions like Down syndrome, or born permature.

PATIENT STORY BY DR. AFFLECK

“I have been seeing these cute twin boys for years.  My goodness, they are in their teens now. One time after Christmas when they were about 7 years old, I was telling them about the Lego toys my son their age had gotten from Santa.  To my surprise they both asked if they could come to my house to play with my son and his new toys.”

Children work with Dr. Affleck for their eye care

Amblyopia is when during childhood one or both eyes do not develop correctly. This childhood condition must be treated early.

Your eyes must work together if you want depth perception.  Your depth perception is defined as understanding how far apart objects are from each other.  Someone with poor depth perception lacks the ability to hit a ball being thrown at them, or misjudges how far a car is when driving.

When a child is first born, their eyes may cross or wander for the first few months.  However, by 4-6 month old if there is misalignment even occasionally your child must be examined by Dr. Affleck.   The concern is an eye condition called strabismus.

The brain as well as your eye are what help you see.  Therefore your visual system is made up with both the eyes and the brain.  Your eyes send signals/images you are focusing on to your brain.  It is the brain that uses the signals to form a picture.

Strabismus also known as crossed eyes is when the eyes do not work together.  Someone with strabismus may only have one eye looking at you when you are talking together.  The other eye is looking in another direction.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

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