Supporting Your Child’s Vision with Detailed Eye Exams
Your child’s health and happiness are everything, and we’re here to help support their vision along the way. At Eyecare Plus, we make it a priority to get your kids in right away for eye exams, especially if they’re dealing with a suspected eye infection or another urgent issue.
Their eye exam typically includes testing:
- Visual Acuity: Evaluating how clearly your child sees and if glasses or contacts are needed.
- Eye Alignment: Checking whether both eyes work together properly.
- Depth Perception & Color Vision: Determining how well your child sees in 3D and if they can perceive a full range of colors.
- Eye movement and tracking: Testing to assess how the eyes follow objects or read.
- Health Check: Looking for signs of any conditions that require attention.
Vision plays a vital role in how kids learn, play, and explore their world. Many learning challenges can start with undetected vision problems, so knowing whether your child has clear, healthy sight can make a big difference in their development.
With 6 convenient locations in Middle Tennessee and weekend appointments, we work around your busy schedule. Book your appointment today.
Why Annual Eye Exams Matter for Your Kids
Yearly eye exams are essential for keeping your child’s vision sharp and their eyes healthy. Vision changes can occur rapidly as kids grow, but annual appointments help us catch and address issues early.
We aim to make eye exams easy and stress-free for kids and parents alike.
We also offer a wide range of fun, durable glasses, including the Dilli Dalli collection for our littlest patients. These glasses are specifically designed for kids, with flexibility and comfort in mind. Plus, our in-house lab means every pair of glasses goes through strict quality control before it reaches your child’s hands.
Our Tips for Kids & Screen Time
Screen time and digital eye strain are growing concerns for kids and teens. Our compassionate team takes the time to get to know your child, their hobbies, school demands, and sports activities, so we can provide tailored advice to protect their vision.
In your child’s exam with us, we can make specific recommendations. Here are some of our favorite guidelines for keeping your kids’ eyes feeling good:
- The 20/20/20 Rule: When your kids are on screens or doing homework, encourage them to give their eyes frequent breaks. Every 20 minutes, they should take a minimum 20-second break and look at something at least 20 feet away.
- Limit Screen Time: Every family is different, but monitoring your child’s screen time can help protect their vision. Aim for under 1 hour/day of screen time for kids 2–5 and avoid screens leading up to bedtime.
- Get Outside: Playing outside isn’t just fun, it may also support your child’s vision development by delaying the onset of nearsightedness!
Amblyopia (Lazy Eye): Early Detection Matters
Amblyopia, commonly known as lazy eye, is a condition where one eye doesn’t develop normal vision, often causing a weaker connection between the eye and the brain. If untreated, the brain may start to favor the stronger eye, reducing vision in the weaker one over time.
It’s not always possible to tell if your child has amblyopia, but parents might notice signs like their child preferring one eye, struggling with depth perception, or one eye occasionally wandering inward or outward.
Our optometrists conduct thorough eye exams to identify amblyopia early on, even in children who may not express vision problems. Using specialized techniques like patching the stronger eye or corrective glasses, we aim to strengthen the connection between the weaker eye and the brain.
Strabismus (Crossed Eyes): Let Us Help
Strabismus, or crossed eyes, happens when the eyes are misaligned and don’t work together to focus on the same object. This can happen constantly or intermittently and might lead to symptoms like double vision, difficulty focusing, or an eye that visibly turns in or out.
Early signs include your child squinting, tilting their head to look at things, or a noticeable misalignment in their eyes, but it can be difficult to notice these things, especially in a young child.
Our optometrists can diagnose strabismus in your child’s comprehensive eye exams. Treatment options might include corrective glasses, vision therapy exercises, or referrals for surgical options, if necessary. Our compassionate team tailors each approach to your child, helping them see the world more clearly.
Myopia Control for Nearsighted Kids & Teens
More and more children are becoming nearsighted, and their vision can continue to worsen as their eyes grow. While some kids may be fine with regular glasses or contacts, others can really benefit from specialized myopia control contact lenses.
Being nearsighted doesn’t just make it difficult to see things far away. It also raises a person’s risk of developing certain eye diseases, like glaucoma, later in life.
You can help protect your child’s vision with myopia control. We offer myopia control contact lenses that both correct your child’s vision and signal to the eye to stop the irregular growth that makes their vision worse.
If your child is nearsighted, we’ll chat with you about myopia control options during their eye exam.
Your Partner in Your Family’s Eye Health
Annual eye exams are the foundation of your child’s lifelong healthy vision. Be sure to bring your child in at least once a year and any time you notice changes in their vision or potential signs of a problem.
Signs of possible vision issues include:
- Squinting or tilting their head to focus
- Rubbing their eyes frequently
- Complaints of headaches or blurry vision
- Difficulty reading or focusing at school
- Closing one eye to see better
- Eye redness, swelling, or discharge
At Eyecare Plus, we’re passionate about protecting your child’s vision. Book their next eye exam today and give them the gift of clear, comfortable sight.
Frequently Asked Questions About Pediatric Eye Exams
Children should have a comprehensive eye exam at least once a year. Because children’s eyes and vision can change quickly as they grow, regular exams help your optometrist identify changes early and address vision problems before they interfere with learning, development, or daily activities.
A pediatric eye exam evaluates your child’s vision and overall eye health. Testing may include visual acuity, eye alignment, depth perception, color vision, eye movement and tracking, and a health evaluation of the eyes. Your optometrist will also determine whether your child needs glasses, contact lenses, or additional treatment.
Children can benefit from eye exams throughout their development, not just once they start school.
Regular exams are especially important as they grow because vision problems can develop or change without obvious symptoms. Your optometrist can recommend an appropriate examination schedule based on your child’s age, vision, and eye health.
Some children may not realize that their vision is blurry or that they are having difficulty seeing. Signs that your child may need an eye exam include squinting, tilting their head, rubbing their eyes frequently, closing one eye to see, complaining of headaches or blurry vision, struggling to read or focus at school, or having an eye that turns in or out. Redness, swelling, or discharge may also indicate an eye problem that needs attention.
Yes. Vision plays an important role in reading, focusing, tracking, and other activities involved in learning. A comprehensive eye exam can identify vision problems that may make schoolwork more difficult, including problems with visual acuity, eye movement, tracking, and eye coordination.
Amblyopia, commonly called lazy eye, occurs when one eye does not develop normal vision and the brain begins to rely more heavily on the stronger eye. It can be difficult for parents to notice because a child may not complain about their vision.
Early detection and treatment can help improve vision in the weaker eye. Treatment may include corrective glasses or patching the stronger eye, depending on your child’s needs.
Strabismus occurs when the eyes are misaligned and don’t work together to focus on the same object. An eye may turn inward, outward, upward, or downward, either constantly or from time to time.
Children with strabismus may also squint, tilt their head, have difficulty focusing, or experience double vision. Our optometrists can evaluate your child’s eye alignment and recommend appropriate treatment or referral when needed.
Yes. Myopia, or nearsightedness, can progress as a child’s eyes grow. Children with myopia may have difficulty seeing objects clearly in the distance, and increasing levels of myopia can be associated with a greater risk of certain eye conditions later in life.
Regular eye exams allow your optometrist to monitor your child’s vision and discuss options for managing myopia progression.
Myopia control refers to treatments designed to slow the progression of nearsightedness as a child’s eyes grow. Eyecare Plus offers specialized myopia control contact lenses that can correct your child’s vision while helping manage abnormal eye growth. If your child is nearsighted, your optometrist can discuss whether myopia control may be appropriate.
Screen time recommendations can vary based on your child’s age and your family’s needs. For younger children, limiting recreational screen use can help support healthy habits.
During screen use or homework, encourage your child to follow the 20/20/20 rule: every 20 minutes, take a break for at least 20 seconds and look at something approximately 20 feet away. Your optometrist can also provide personalized recommendations for managing digital eye strain.
Spending time outdoors may support healthy vision development and may help delay the onset of myopia in children. Encouraging regular outdoor activities can be part of a healthy routine alongside annual eye exams and appropriate management of screen time.
Yes. Eyecare Plus has 6 convenient locations in Middle Tennessee and offers weekend appointments, making it easier for families to schedule their child’s eye exam around school and other activities. Walk-in patients are also welcome at all Eyecare Plus locations.
Yes. Eyecare Plus offers children’s eyewear, including the Dilli Dalli collection for younger patients.
The collection is designed with children’s comfort, flexibility, and durability in mind. Glasses can also be made through our in-house lab, where each pair goes through quality control before reaching your child.
Our 6 Eye Clinic Locations in Greater Nashville
Made Here,
Made to Last
See clearer, faster. Our in-house lens edging means your new glasses are crafted with precision and ready fast. At Eyecare Plus, we’re dedicated to quality control every step of the way.
Book OnlineExplore Our Eyewear Brands
About Us
Specialty Eye Care
Dry Eye Exams
Eyewear
Antioch (Hickory Hollow)
- 5323 Mt. View Road
- Antioch, TN 37013-2308
Clarksville
- 2024 Wilma Rudolph Blvd., Suite C
- Clarksville, TN 37040-6879
Hendersonville
- 386 W Main Street, Suite 104
- Hendersonville, TN 37075-3349
IMPORTANT HEALTH COVERAGE TAX DOCUMENTS:
Form 1095-C for the 2025 tax year is available upon request. To request your copy, please contact Eyecare Plus at jennifer@myeyecareplus.com, 615-601-3888, or 419 Memorial Blvd Murfreesboro, TN 37129. Forms will be provided within 30 days of request, or by January 31st, whichever is sooner. This notice remains available through October 15, 2027.