Talking About Optometry For Kids

Learn How To Help Your Autistic Child Get Their Eyes Examined For The First Time

8 June 2016

Amelia Dunn

If you have a son or daughter who is autistic, having their eyes checked can be difficult because they may not be able to verbalize what they are seeing or be able to identify letters on a traditional eye chart. Fortunately, it is possible to create a custom eye chart for your child to use to test their eyesight. The guide below walks you through the process for using a custom eye chart to check your child's vision.

Meet with the Eye Doctor

The first thing you need to do is to meet with the eye doctor and explain the situation to him or her. They will be able to let you know the scale the pictures need to be in for each line of the eye chart. This allows him or her to be able to determine if your child's eyesight needs correction or not.

Create the Eye Chart

The next thing you need to do is to create the eye chart for your child. Be sure to choose images that you know your child can easily identify. Add the pictures to the chart in the scale the doctor explained to you. Have a key for your child to be able to point to when telling the doctor what they see on the eye chart.

Create Blacked Out Glasses

Holding anything over your child's eye to block their vision of a single eye could cause your child to become very uncomfortable with the appointment. Purchase two sets of sunglasses and remove the left lens from one of the glasses and the right lens in the other set of glasses. Paint over the lenses that are left in the glasses with black paint until you can no longer see through them. This will block your child's vision of one eye so that the eye doctor can properly evaluate the vision of each eye.

Have Your Child's Eyes Examined

Finally, take the chart, key, blacked out glasses, and your child to the eye doctor. Stay with your child to help them feel more comfortable with everything that will take place during the exam. Help to explain things to your child in terms that they will understand during the appointment, if it seems like they are getting confused.

After the appointment is complete, the doctor should be able to let you know if your child has any vision issues that need to be addressed. Glasses can be made using plastic frames and plastic lenses to ensure that the glasses are durable enough to be able to stand up to anything your child may put them through. Eye doctors, like those at Envision Eyecare, can provide more information.

Share