Optometry

Neonatal Vision Screening

Vision screening (optometry) refers to the assessment and measurement of vision and sight, used for the comprehensive examination and evaluation of the eye structure, the diagnosis of eye diseases, and the performance of various specialized vision tests such as the visual field test, color vision test, depth vision test, corneal topography, and others. The optometric chart has a particularly important role.

Vision Tests for Children

If your child does not exhibit any of the symptoms of refractive errors or other vision problems, a complete examination of the visual system should be performed at six months of age and again at three years of age. According to the American Optometric Association, a complete examination of the child before entering school enables timely diagnosis and definitive treatment of any visual system problem. Therefore, children without visible signs of vision problems should undergo a complete examination for the third time before entering school.

Children under 7 years of age should be examined at least three times for vision assessment and the diagnosis of amblyopia (lazy eye). At these ages, the child’s eye is still developing; for this reason, even if the child has previously had no eye problems, families should return to these centers for further examination.

What is Optometry?

Optometry is one part of a complete (multi-part) eye examination and includes obtaining a visual history, measuring visual acuity (clarity of vision), refraction assessment, binocular vision evaluation, accommodation and ocular motility, color vision, screening, and data evaluation. In other words, optometry is the assessment of vision and its related structures for the detection of vision disorders and the prescription of appropriate lenses or other vision aids, or eye exercises to compensate for visual deficiencies.

Optometric testing is performed daily at the outpatient emergency unit by experienced and specialized colleagues.