The eye examination in the pediatrician's office

The visual system of children must be routinely examined by the pediatrician. The development of the visual system in children less than 10 years of age is extremely vulnerable to any anatomic or functional abnormality in the eye. Also, young children with life-threatening systemic diseases may initially present with findings limited to the visual system. Failure to examine and identify a problem in either situation may lead to irreversible blindness or death. The actual task of vision screening and eye examination can seem daunting in a busy pediatric office. Pediatricians and their office staff must recognize that the visual system should be examined on an ongoing basis as part of well-child care from birth to late childhood. Speed, skill and diagnostic abilities will increase quickly as the examination techniques described here are practiced on a daily basis.