When it comes to biological development, healthy eyes—and good vision—are crucial components of growth that will enable your child to reach important milestones during childhood. With its primary sensory input, vision determines most of what a child learns in the first years of life and helps them process the world around them. Vision also impacts cognitive development (helping a child recognize shapes, colors, patterns, and facial expressions) and affects a child's motor skills, social interaction, and overall learning ability.

Vision is also part of a child's development and quickly changes through the first six years. These formative years are also considered a vulnerable period because they are when a child's development is most vulnerable to the effects of any threats to eye health and vision. Changes in eye health during this time can cause developmental delays, so it's crucial for a child to have regular vision screening and treatment.

Vision screenings and eye exams

Soon after birth, your infant's eyes should be examined by your neonatal pediatrician to check for any common postpartum eye diseases such as cataracts, infantile glaucoma, and eye tumors. From then on, a child's eyes will constantly change in the first six years of life, and vision screenings should be part of their regular checkups. Medical experts suggest the following schedule:

• One visit between 6-12 months
• One visit between 2-3 years old
• One visit between 4-5 years old
• Annual visit, from 6 years and up

These screenings identify the need for additional eye care and may be performed by your family doctor, pediatrician, school nurse or other healthcare professional.

If signs of a vision problem are discovered at a screening, your child will be scheduled to see an eye doctor for a comprehensive eye exam. These exams are performed by an eye doctor—a specialist called an ophthalmologist or optometrist—vision experts who can diagnose your child's medical or vision problem and provide necessary treatment. If you have concerns about your child's vision, ask your pediatrician to refer you to an eye doctor.

Remember, young children may not report if they feel something is wrong with their vision because they may not realize it themselves. These regular eye exams allow an eye doctor to follow your child's vision through development, and if anything changes, you can treat and manage your child's vision quickly.

Ways to help protect your child's vision

Diet: Eating a healthy diet rich in vitamins and minerals (fruits and vegetables) can help protect your child's vision.

Limited screen time: TV, computer, and tablet screens can make uncorrected vision problems worse. Therefore, you should limit your child's screen time and have them take frequent breaks.

Sleep: A good night's rest helps the body and eyes heal overnight. Without proper sleep, eyes cannot recover from everyday use or exposure to common environmental irritants like pollen or mold.

Outdoor time: Being outdoors gets your child away from close or near vision activities like screen use, allowing a child to look at more distant objects. This lets your child's eyes recover from strain and fatigue. Being outdoors also provides exposure to vitamin D from the sun, which is a vital nutrient for the eyes.

Protective eyewear and sunglasses: Protective eyewear can help prevent nearly 90 percent of eye injuries, especially in sports or other outdoor play. You can also help your child protect their eyes with sunglasses with 100 percent ultraviolet (UV) protection.