Pediatric Eye Exams in Illinois

Eye Boutique reminds parents that good vision is critical for many classroom tasks – from reading books or seeing a whiteboard to viewing a computer screen. Without healthy vision, students can face unnecessary challenges not only in the classroom, but also to their mental, physical, social and emotional well being.

Early detection and treatment provide the very best opportunity to treat and correct vision problems to help children see clearly.

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How Much Do Children’s Eye Exams Cost?

Without insurance, a children’s eye exam costs $85* at all Eye Boutique locations (some restrictions may apply to promotional price, please see offer details). CareCredit is also accepted for children’s eye exams and children’s eyewear at all our stores.

Most vision insurance plans cover the cost of a yearly pediatric eye exam. Our eye doctors accept many insurance and union plans, and we offer free benefit checks. Call or stop by and we’ll let you know what’s covered.

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Why Are Children’s Eye Exams Important?

A comprehensive eye examination for children is one of the most important “to-dos” as children head back to school, and yet it is often overlooked. Without an eye exam, many children will suffer from undetected vision problems, and some may even be misdiagnosed as having a learning disorder. Many parents rely on vision screenings in school to check for eye problems, but that isn’t enough. Comprehensive eye exams are necessary to detect problems that a simple screening can miss, such as eye coordination, moderate amounts of farsightedness and astigmatism.

Up to 80% of what children learn in school is through their eyes. Good vision is also important for a child’s safety, especially when playing sports or being active. Getting eye exams from a young age helps children develop healthy, lifelong vision habits.

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When Should Children Have Their First Eye Exam?

The American Optometric Association recommends having a child’s first eye exam between 6 and 12 months old. At 6 months, the average child has reached many critical development milestones, making this the ideal age for their first eye and vision examination.

Please contact us for a referral for children under 5 years old.

BIRTH – 2 YEARS
Infants and toddlers should have their first eye exam at 6-12 months.

3 – 5 YEARS
Children should have at least one eye exam between 3 & 5.

6 – 18 YEARS
Children should have an eye exam before 1st grade, then annually afterward.

Expert Pediatric Eye Care

Pediatric eye exams are available at all Eye Boutique locations and are performed by a licensed Optometrist, not a technician.

To learn more about comprehensive eye exams at Eye Boutique, please call one of our offices or schedule an appointment online.

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Frequently Asked Questions

For patients with vision insurance, typically the cost of a yearly pediatric eye exam is covered. We offer free benefit checks (no appointment needed) at all locations.

For patients without vision insurance, Eye Boutique keeps routine eye exams affordable. Check out our current offers for eye exam promotional pricing.

Children should have an eye exam before entering kindergarten. Our eye doctors provide eye exams for children ages three and up. For toddlers younger than three, please contact us for a referral.

School-aged children and teenagers who don’t need vision correction should have an eye exam once every two years. If your child wears glasses or contacts they should have an exam once a year.

Ages 4-5 years

During an eye exam for small children the eye doctor will check for:

Amblyopia (lazy eye)
Strabismus (misaligned or crossed eyes)
Visual acuity

Eye testing for small children may include:

Vision tests using symbols or icons (such as a house or apple) instead of an eye chart
3D glasses used to view random dot patterns to measure eye teaming
Retinoscopy (shining a light into the eye) to examine the retinal reflection and help determine prescription if necessary

In addition to the recommended routine eye care, you should schedule an eye exam if you notice your child frequently squinting or rubbing their eyes, avoiding visually dependent activities like puzzles or coloring, getting too close to screens or reading materials, or struggling with number, letter and object recognition.

Ages 6-18

At eye exams for school-aged children optometrists check for:

Focusing and visual acuity (near- or far-sightedness)
Proper binocular vision (eye teaming)
Peripheral vision
Depth perception
Color vision
Eye tracking and hand-eye coordination

Sometimes children struggling with school or extracurricular activities have an underlying vision problem to blame. If a child (or parent) doesn’t realize they have abnormal vision, untreated vision problems may lead to behavioral issues including short attention span.

Parents of school-aged children should schedule an eye exam if their child has symptoms including:

Frequent headaches or blinking
Frequently losing their place when reading, poor reading comprehension, or avoiding reading
Double vision or often tilting head to one side
Inability to maintain focus or eye contact
Eye alignment fails when looking at near objects

Good vision is essential for reading, learning and motor skills development. Undiagnosed and uncorrected vision problems can lead to academic, social or athletic difficulties.

There are several eye health tips good for patients of all ages:

Eat a nutritious diet including plenty of fruits and vegetables
Foods with antioxidants, vitamins and minerals including vitamin C, omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin E and more promote retinal health & support healthy tear production.

Stay active & maintain a healthy weight
Risk factors like high blood pressure, high cholesterol & diabetes can lead to vision loss.

Wear protective eyewear during sports
Discuss your child’s extracurricular activities with your eye doctor to learn how to prevent common eye injuries.

Monitor screen time & take breaks
Don’t let children stare uninterrupted at computer screens, televisions, smartphone displays or tablets. At a minimum, take a screen break every 20 minutes to relax the eyes.

Wear sunglasses
Children’s eyes are even more vulnerable to UV light than adults’. Wear lenses with 100% UV protection when exposed to UV rays.

Avoid smoke
Encourage your children to avoid smoking, including second-hand smoke (and be a good example!). Smoking elevates the risk of forming cataracts, glaucoma, dry eye syndrome and macular degeneration.

Learn the family tree
Discuss your family history of eye health and diseases with your optometrist. Follow all of your eye doctor’s advice on screening and treating eye conditions.

Young children may not recognize the difference between clear and compromised vision. If you notice your child frequently squinting, getting too close to screens, or closing one eye when trying to read, they may require vision correction.

Optometrists are eye doctors who conduct eye exams, write prescriptions for eyeglasses and contact lenses, prescribe medication to treat eye conditions, diagnose and treat eye disease, and offer pre- and post-operation care.

Eye Boutique eye doctors are licensed optometrists welcoming patients of all ages (3 and up). For patients younger than age 3, please contact us for a referral.

If your child is diagnosed with a health problem concerning the eyes, they may be referred to an ophthalmologist. Ophthalmologists have a different level of training and are qualified to perform eye surgery.