Recommended Pediatric Eye Exam Schedule for Children

The AOA recommends that children have a comprehensive eye exam every two years. More specifically:

• First 12 months – Infants, particularly premature babies, should have an eye exam in the first 12 months.
• Age 2 or 3 years – Preschool is a critical time for learning. Preschoolers should have an eye exam when they are old enough to understand and respond to the exam.
• Age 5 – Kindergarten is also a critical time for learning. Kindergartners should have an eye exam before entering school.
• Children without identified vision problems should then have a comprehensive eye exam every two years.
• Children who wear glasses or who have other eye conditions should see the eye doctor at least annually, or more often, as recommended by the doctor.