Vision issues affect around five percent to ten percent of preschoolers and twenty-five percent of school-aged children, according to the estimates of some qualified specialists. The American Optometric Association (AOA) recommends that children should receive an eye exam when they are six months old, again when they are three years old, and once more when they first begin attending school. Children who do not have any preexisting vision issues or risk factors for eye or vision difficulties should then continue to get their eyes examined at least once every year while they are enrolled in school.
Children who already have visual issues or who have risk factors for developing them should have their eyes tested more frequently. The following are some common risk factors for visual problems:
