The U.S. Preventive Screening Task Force recommends screening to detect amblyopia, strabismus, and other vision problems in children younger than age 5 years.¹ Children who do not have signs of vision problems and who have no family history of childhood eye problems may have their eyes tested during a routine doctor visit. Children from families with a history of childhood eye problems need to have their vision tested by an eye care specialist (an ophthalmologist or optometrist).

Infants and children younger than age 3 usually do not have significant vision problems that involve refractive errors. Even so, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Ophthalmologists recommend that all children be tested for eye problems during the newborn period and again at all routine well child visits.² In particular, vision screening is recommended for infants who were either born at or before 30 weeks, whose birth weight was less than 1500 g (3.3 lb), or who have serious medical conditions.³

Infants with symptoms of eye disease, such as redness or swelling, should be examined by a specialist as soon as possible.

Eye exams by a specialist are also recommended before age 3 years if:

• The family has a history of childhood eye problems, especially genetic eye diseases.
• Signs of misaligned eyes (strabismus), lazy eye (amblyopia), or nearsightedness (myopia) are present.
• The child's eye is red, swollen, or cloudy.