Pediatric Eye Exams in Boca Raton, Designed for Kids.
Comprehensive kids' eye exams, from your child's first exam through every grade, we make sure their eyes are healthy and ready to learn.
Free Baby Eye Exams for 6–12 Months
Dr. Murray is a participating provider in the InfantSEE® program: a no-cost, no-insurance-needed comprehensive eye assessment for babies 6 to 12 months old, regardless of family income.
Why a Screening Is Not Enough
Kids rarely tell you when they can't see clearly. They don't know what "normal" looks like. School vision screenings catch only a fraction of vision problems, and many children with significant visual issues pass them. That's why a comprehensive eye exam from an optometrist is essential at key developmental milestones.
The good news: when caught early, most pediatric vision problems are very treatable. We make exams welcoming, thorough, and age-appropriate so kids actually look forward to their visits. Here's what to expect at your child's first exam.
A Complete Look at Your Child's Visual System
Visual Acuity
How clearly your child sees at distance and near. The foundation of academic and athletic performance.
Eye Health
A thorough examination of the front and back of the eye to make sure everything is developing as it should.
Eye Teaming & Tracking
How well the two eyes work together for reading, computer work, and sports. Issues here can mimic learning challenges.
Focusing Skills
The ability to shift focus smoothly between near and far, critical for keeping up in the classroom.
Color Vision
A simple screening that catches color-vision deficiencies early.
Refraction
Whether your child needs glasses, and if so, the exact prescription, even very young children who can't read a chart.
Recommended Exam Schedule
The American Optometric Association's recommended timeline for pediatric eye exams.
First Exam: 6–12 Months
Recommended by the American Optometric Association. We check eye alignment, focusing, and overall development. Free InfantSEE® exams are available through participating providers.
Preschool: At Least Once Between Ages 3 and 5
A more comprehensive look at how the visual system is developing as your child becomes more active and visually demanding tasks ramp up.
Before First Grade
An exam before first grade makes sure your child starts reading-heavy grades with the visual skills needed to learn. School screenings catch only a fraction of what a full exam does.
School-Age: Annual Exams
Annual comprehensive exams during the school years catch changes early. Important since vision can change rapidly during growth spurts.
Planning around a specific age? See toddler and preschool eye exams and back-to-school eye exams. If your child just failed a school screening, here is what to do after a failed school vision screening.
Signs Your Child May Need an Exam
- Sitting too close to the TV or holding books unusually close. These can be signs your child needs glasses
- Squinting, head-tilting, or rubbing or blinking eyes frequently
- Skipping lines, losing place, or avoiding reading
- Frequent headaches, especially after school
- Trouble with hand-eye coordination in sports
- Light sensitivity or excessive tearing
- Falling grades or sudden change in school performance
- Eye turn, lazy eye, or one eye drifting
If any of these sound familiar, don't wait for the next checkup. Book a comprehensive exam now. Some symptoms point toward binocular vision issues that need a deeper look. See our specialty binocular vision care.
How Paying for Your Child's Exam Works
We bill your vision or medical insurance. Your out-of-pocket cost depends on your specific plan, and we verify benefits before every visit.
For children under 4: ask about our specialty evaluation for lazy eyes, eye turns, and binocular function in infants and toddlers.
Using insurance? Your out-of-pocket cost depends on your plan's copay, deductible, and benefits. New here? Visit our new patients page. Without insurance? Call us and we'll arrange a self-pay visit through our sister practice, Vision & Learning Center.
Real Experiences From Families We've Cared For
“As a teacher, I've always heard great things about Dr. Murray's office from former students and their parents. It just made sense for me to bring my own son to her. Dr. Murray was extremely informative during her evaluation, and my son really enjoys his therapist. She's super professional and writes up comprehensive notes so we can support him at home. Really pleased with the journey so far.”
“My son has been working with the team and our experience has been very positive. He truly enjoys his visits and looks forward to each session. I'm already noticing improvement. We're excited for him to complete the program.”
“I have been looking for a doctor that specializes in adult special needs and nobody would return my call. I left a message and Dr. Murray's office called me immediately the next morning. It was the best decision I made. She took her time and was so patient. We previously took a family member to another doctor who couldn't get an accurate eye exam. Dr. Murray was specific on what needed to be done and said there's no reason why it couldn't be done, you might just have to do things in a different manner. She was the best eye doctor for our family member with special needs.”
Pediatric Eye Exam Questions
How often should my child have an eye exam once they start school?
The American Optometric Association recommends a first exam between 6 and 12 months, at least one exam between ages 3 and 5, another before first grade, and then an exam every year through the school years. Vision can change quickly during growth spurts, so in my practice I like to see school-age kids every year even when nothing seems wrong. Here is how often kids need eye exams.
What does a pediatric eye exam check besides the eye chart?
A lot more than letters on a wall. I check how clearly your child sees at distance and near, the health of the front and back of the eye, eye teaming and tracking, focusing, color vision, and whether glasses are needed. Teaming and focusing problems can look like a learning or attention issue, which is why a child with 20/20 vision can still need an exam.
Does insurance cover a pediatric eye exam?
Vision insurance generally covers a yearly comprehensive eye exam, and the visit takes about 40 minutes. For children under 4 with a lazy eye, eye turn, or other binocular concern, I offer a specialty evaluation, which medical insurance often covers. We verify your benefits before the visit so you know your out-of-pocket cost ahead of time. Without insurance? Call us and we'll arrange a self-pay visit through our sister practice, Vision & Learning Center.
What signs mean I should book my child an exam sooner?
Don't wait for the next checkup if your child squints, tilts their head, holds books very close, skips lines or loses their place while reading, gets headaches after school, rubs or blinks their eyes a lot, or has an eye that turns or drifts. Falling grades without an obvious cause are worth a look too. See more signs your child needs glasses.
Serving Boca Raton and Nearby Cities
We see patients for pediatric eye exams at our office at 1000 NW 9th Ct, Ste 203A, Boca Raton, FL 33486. Families also come to us from Delray Beach, Highland Beach, Boynton Beach, Deerfield Beach, Parkland, Coral Springs, and Pompano Beach. Directions from your city →
Schedule Your Child's Exam
Booking online takes less than a minute. We have after-school appointments until 5:30 PM.