Plain-English Answers From a Pediatric Optometrist.
Articles on children's eye exams, vision and learning, myopia management, dry eye, and more, written by Dr. Christina Murray, OD, FCOVD.
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Pediatric Eye Care
When Should My Baby Have Their First Eye Exam?
Most babies should have their first eye exam around 6 months old. Learn why early eye exams matter, what the doctor checks, and when to schedule sooner.
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Pediatric Eye Care
Can My Child Have 20/20 Vision and Still Need an Eye Exam?
Yes, a child can have 20/20 vision and still need an eye exam. Learn what 20/20 does not check, from focusing and eye teaming to reading comfort.
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Pediatric Eye Care
Why Cheap Kids Glasses May Cost More in the Long Run
Cheap kids glasses can cost more over time. Poor fit, weak frames, and no warranty add up. Learn what to look for before you buy.
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Pediatric Eye Care
Lazy Eye and Amblyopia: What Every Parent Should Know
Lazy eye, or amblyopia, happens when vision does not develop normally in childhood. Learn the signs, the causes, and why early treatment matters.
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Pediatric Eye Care
Does My Child Need a Backup Pair of Glasses?
A backup pair saves stress when your child's glasses break, get lost, or stay at school. Learn when a second pair is worth it for your family.
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Lifestyle
Blue Light Glasses for Kids: Worth It or Hype?
Blue light glasses are popular for kids, but do they help? What parents should know about screen strain, sleep, and when an eye exam matters more.
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Pediatric Eye Care
Why Does My Child Blink So Much?
Excessive blinking in children can come from allergies, dry eye, eye strain, or a glasses need. Learn when to watch it and when to book an exam.
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Pediatric Eye Care
What to Do If Your Child Gets Hit in the Eye
Eye injuries in children can look minor and still need care. What to do after a hit, scratch, chemical splash, or sports injury, and when to call.
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Pediatric Eye Care
Why Does My Child Say Their Eyes Hurt?
Eye pain in children can come from dryness, allergies, strain, or infection. What you can watch at home, and when to call the eye doctor.
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Pediatric Eye Care
What to Expect at Your Child's First Eye Exam
Learn what happens during your child's first eye exam, what the doctor checks, how to prepare, and why a full eye exam is different from a vision screening.
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Pediatric Eye Care
Why Does My Child Get Headaches After School?
Headaches after school can come from vision strain, screens, reading, or dehydration. Learn when an eye exam may help and when to call sooner.
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Pediatric Eye Care
Why Is My Child So Sensitive to Light?
Light sensitivity in children can come from allergies, dry eye, migraine, or a scratch. Learn the common causes and when to call the eye doctor.
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Pediatric Eye Care
What to Do If Your Child Refuses to Wear Glasses
If your child refuses to wear glasses, there is usually a reason. Learn how to check comfort, fit, and prescription, and when to call the doctor.
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Pediatric Eye Care
Why Does My Child Keep Getting Styes?
Styes are common in children, but repeated bumps may need an eye exam. Learn what causes them, how to treat them, and when to call the eye doctor.
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Pediatric Eye Care
Does My Child Really Need to Wear Glasses All Day?
Some children need glasses all day, others only for school or reading. Learn why the wearing schedule depends on the prescription and the reason.
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Myopia Management
Myopia in Kids Is Rising: What Every Parent Should Do Now
Myopia, or nearsightedness, is becoming more common in children. Learn the signs to watch for and why early treatment makes a real difference.
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Reading & Learning
Concussion and Vision: Why Your Child's Headaches Are Not Going Away
Headaches after a concussion can be related to the eyes. Learn how concussion can affect focusing, eye teaming, light sensitivity, reading, and screen comfort.
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Pediatric Eye Care
Are Colored Contacts Safe for Kids and Teens?
Colored contacts are safe only when they are prescribed and properly fit. Learn why costume and online lenses are risky for kids and teens.
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Pediatric Eye Care
Why Are My Child's Contact Lenses Uncomfortable?
Contact lenses should feel comfortable. Learn why kids and teens may have contact lens discomfort, when to stop wearing lenses, and when to call the eye doctor.
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Pediatric Eye Care
Why Does My Child Need a Contact Lens Exam If Their Prescription Has Not Changed?
Contact lenses need more than a glasses prescription. Learn why kids and teens need a contact lens exam and why those prescriptions expire.
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Pediatric Eye Care
Contact Lenses for Kids Who Play Sports: What Parents Should Know
Contacts help kids see during sports but do not protect their eyes. Learn when contacts help and when sport goggles are still needed.
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Eye Health & Medical
Dry Eye in South Florida, Why Our Climate Makes It Worse
Dry eye happens even in humid South Florida. Learn how air conditioning, screens, allergies, and pool time leave eyes red, watery, or irritated.
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Pediatric Eye Care
Daily Contacts vs Monthly Contacts for Kids: Which Is Better?
Daily and monthly contacts can both work for children. The right choice depends on hygiene, maturity, comfort, cost, and your child's eye health.
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Reading & Learning
Convergence Insufficiency: The Reading Problem Many Families Miss
Convergence insufficiency can make reading tiring and frustrating for children. Learn the signs, why it is often missed, and when to book an exam.
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Pediatric Eye Care
Eye Care for Teens: What Changes After Age 12
Teen eye care changes as school, screens, sports, contacts, and driving take over. Learn when your teen should have an eye exam.
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Eye Health & Medical
When to Call Your Eye Doctor vs Go to the ER
Eye pain, redness, flashes, floaters, and injuries can be confusing. Learn when to call your eye doctor and when to head straight to the ER.
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Eye Health & Medical
Floaters and Flashes: When to Worry
Floaters and flashes can be harmless, but they can also be warning signs of a retinal tear or detachment. Learn when to call the eye doctor right away.
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Lifestyle
How to Choose Frames for Your Kid That Won't Fall Apart
Kids glasses need to fit well, stay comfortable, and survive real life. Learn how to choose durable frames, safer lenses, and the right fit for your child.
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Pediatric Eye Care
How Often Should Kids Have Eye Exams?
Children need eye exams at different ages, even if they pass school screenings. Learn when babies, preschoolers, and teens should be seen.
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Pediatric Eye Care
When Can My Child Start Wearing Contact Lenses?
Many children can wear contacts once they handle the routine. Learn the signs your child is ready and the safety rules that matter most.
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Pediatric Eye Care
Should My Child Get Glasses from the Eye Doctor or Online?
Ordering kids glasses online can go wrong in ways parents do not expect. What to know about fit, lens quality, and getting the prescription right.
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Lifestyle
The Truth About Reading Glasses: When, Why, and What to Expect
Reading glasses are common after 40, but blurry near vision is not always simple. Learn when readers help and when you need an eye exam.
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Eye Health & Medical
Pink Eye vs Allergy Eye, How to Tell the Difference
Pink eye and eye allergies both leave a child's eyes red and watery. Learn the differences, the symptoms that matter, and when to call.
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Pediatric Eye Care
Why Are My Child's Eyes Always Red, Itchy, or Watery?
Red, itchy, watery eyes in children are often allergies, but dry eye and pink eye look similar. Learn the clues and when to call the doctor.
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Myopia Management
MiSight vs ortho-K vs Atropine: Which Treatment Is Right?
MiSight, ortho-K, and atropine are the main myopia options for kids. Learn how they work, how they differ, and what to ask before choosing.
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Pediatric Eye Care
Why School Vision Screenings Miss What We Catch
School vision screenings help, but they are not a full eye exam. Learn what they check, what they miss, and when your child should be seen.
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Lifestyle
Screen Time and Your Kid's Eyes: What the Science Actually Says
Screen time does not damage your child's eyes, but it does change how they use them. What the research actually shows, and what helps at home.
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Pediatric Eye Care
8 Signs Your Child Might Need Glasses
Squinting, headaches, eye rubbing, reading fatigue, and trouble seeing the board can all be signs your child may need glasses or a full eye exam.
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Pediatric Eye Care
Can My Child Sleep, Swim, or Shower in Contact Lenses?
Kids should not sleep, swim, or shower in contacts unless their eye doctor says it is safe. Learn the risks and what to do if it happens.
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Reading & Learning
Could Vision Be Why Your Child Struggles to Read?
Reading struggles have many causes, and vision is often overlooked. Learn how focusing, eye teaming, and tracking affect how your child reads.
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Pediatric Eye Care
What Does 20/20 Vision Actually Mean?
20/20 means your child sees clearly at a set distance, not that every part of vision works well. Learn what 20/20 does and does not tell you.
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Pediatric Eye Care
Why Did My Child's Glasses Prescription Change?
Children's prescriptions change as their eyes grow. Learn when that is normal, when to ask about myopia management, and what to watch for.
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Pediatric Eye Care
What Should I Bring to My Child's Eye Exam?
Bringing the right information helps your child's eye exam go smoothly. Learn what to bring, what to write down, and how to prepare your child.
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Pediatric Eye Care
Why Does My Child Squint Even If They Can See the Board?
Squinting can signal blurry vision, eye strain, or light sensitivity. Learn why a child may squint even when they seem to see the board fine.
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Myopia Management
When to Start Myopia Management: Earlier Is Better
Myopia management works best when parents ask early. Learn when to start and why waiting for a worse prescription can limit your options.
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Pediatric Eye Care
Why Kids Break Glasses and How to Pick Better Frames
Kids break glasses for real reasons. Learn why frames bend, slide, and snap, and how to choose pairs that fit your child's face and daily life.