Pediatric Eye Care in Belmont, NC
Pediatric Services
Pediatric Eye Exams
Looking for pediatric eye care in Belmont, NC? Belmont Eye provides comprehensive eye care for infants, children, and teens, from routine eye exams and vision concerns to the diagnosis and management of pediatric eye conditions.
Children’s vision can change quickly as they grow, and some eye conditions may not cause obvious symptoms. Our doctors evaluate visual acuity, eye health, prescription needs, eye alignment, focusing and tracking, and other aspects of visual development based on your child’s age and needs. When a problem is identified, we can discuss treatment, monitoring, or referral when appropriate.
Pediatric Eye Care with Dr. Calah Clayton
Belmont Eye provides pediatric eye care in Belmont, NC for infants, children, and teens, with care tailored to each stage of visual development. Our pediatric eye care team includes Dr. Calah Clayton, a pediatric and primary care optometrist who specializes in caring for children ages 6 months and older. Dr. Clayton has a special interest in pediatric vision, amblyopia (lazy eye), strabismus (eye turns), and comprehensive eye care for children and teens.
Pediatric Eye Doctor in Belmont, NC
Infant Eye Exams: 6–12 Months
The American Optometric Association recommends a child’s first eye exam be as early as 6 months of age. A baby’s first year includes rapid visual development. During an infant eye exam, our doctors evaluate eye health, prescription, eye alignment, focusing, tracking, and other age-appropriate visual milestones. Early evaluation can help identify conditions that may interfere with normal vision development before a child is able to tell you something is wrong.
Visual Development During Baby’s First Year
- Begins focusing on faces and nearby objects
- Develops increasingly coordinated eye movements
- Follows moving objects with the eyes
- Develops better hand-eye coordination
- Depth perception continues to develop
- Reaches for and visually explores objects
- Eyes should increasingly work together and remain well aligned
Pediatric Services
Preschool Eye Exams: Ages 2–5
The preschool years are an important time for visual development. As children begin learning, playing, and developing more complex motor skills, clear and comfortable vision becomes increasingly important. Age-appropriate testing can evaluate vision, prescription needs, eye alignment, focusing, and overall eye health—even in children who do not yet know their letters.
Conditions such as amblyopia (lazy eye), strabismus (an eye that turns in or out), and significant differences in prescription between the eyes can interfere with normal visual development. Because children may not realize that one eye sees differently from the other, these problems are not always obvious to parents. Early detection gives us the opportunity to recommend treatment or additional evaluation when needed.
Vision Skills Developing During the Preschool Years
- Visual acuity continues to develop
- Eye-hand coordination improves
- Depth perception becomes more refined
- Visual attention and tracking improve
- Children become better at recognizing shapes, pictures, and letters
- Eyes increasingly work together for near and distance activities
Pediatric Services
School-Age Eye Exams: Ages 5 & Up
As children enter school, their visual demands increase. Clear vision is important for seeing the board, reading, using digital devices, participating in sports, and completing classroom activities. Our doctors evaluate visual acuity, prescription needs, eye alignment, focusing, eye coordination, and overall eye health based on each child’s individual needs.
If your child has difficulty seeing, fails a vision screening, develops frequent headaches or eye strain, squints, sits unusually close to screens, or you notice an eye turn or other change in their vision, a comprehensive eye examination can help determine whether an eye or vision problem is contributing.
Vision Skills During the School-Age Years
- Clear distance and near vision
- Accurate eye tracking while reading
- Comfortable focusing between near and far
- Eye coordination and depth perception
- Visual attention during classroom activities
- Hand-eye coordination for writing, sports, and other activities
- Ability to recognize and respond to changes in vision
Myopia (Nearsightedness) in Children
Myopia, or nearsightedness, often develops during the school-age years and may progress as a child grows. Children with myopia may have difficulty seeing the board at school, squint to see things at a distance, or sit closer to televisions and screens.
For children with progressive myopia, Belmont Eye offers myopia management options designed to help slow progression. Our doctors can determine which option may be appropriate based on your child’s age, prescription, eye health, and individual needs.
Pediatric Services
Eye Teaming & Binocular Vision in Children
For clear, comfortable vision, the eyes need to work together as a team. Binocular vision allows both eyes to coordinate so the brain can combine the images from each eye into a single view and perceive depth. Problems with eye alignment, focusing, or coordination may cause symptoms such as double vision, blurred vision, headaches, or eye strain, particularly during reading and other near tasks.
During a comprehensive pediatric eye exam, our doctors evaluate eye alignment, eye movements, focusing ability, and how well the eyes work together. If a binocular vision or focusing problem is identified, we can determine whether treatment, monitoring, or referral is appropriate for your child.
Symptoms Include:
- Eye fatigue when reading
- Trouble concentrating
- Difficulty with reading comprehension
- Skipping lines when reading
- Words appearing to run together
- Headaches
Pediatric Services
Screen Time & Digital Eye Strain in Children
Computers, tablets, smartphones, and other digital devices are a regular part of children’s lives. Extended periods of screen use can contribute to digital eye strain, with symptoms such as tired or dry eyes, headaches, blurred vision, and eye discomfort. Children often blink less while using screens and may spend long periods focusing at a close distance.
Encourage regular breaks using the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, look at something about 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds. Comfortable screen distance, appropriate lighting, frequent blinking, and time spent outdoors can also support healthy visual habits. If your child frequently experiences headaches, blurred vision, double vision, eye pain, or eye strain, schedule a comprehensive eye exam to rule out an underlying vision problem.
Pediatric Services
Pediatric Medical Eye Care
Children can develop medical eye problems just like adults, and some require prompt evaluation and treatment. Belmont Eye evaluates and treats pediatric eye conditions including red or pink eye, styes, eye allergies, corneal abrasions, blocked tear ducts, eye injuries, and other causes of eye pain, redness, discharge, or sudden vision changes.
Our doctors can diagnose and treat many pediatric eye conditions in our office and coordinate referral to a pediatric ophthalmologist or other specialist when additional care is needed.
Pediatric Eye Conditions We Evaluate
- White pupil
- Red eye/ pink eye
- Stye
- Abrasion
- Allergies (itchy watery eyes)
- Nasolacrimal duct obstruction (build up of tears and mucus at inner corner of eye)
- Eye(s) turning inward or outward
- Abrasions/Scratches
When Should Your Child See an Eye Doctor?
Schedule an eye exam if your child fails a vision screening or you notice changes in their vision, eye appearance, or visual comfort. Signs that may warrant an eye examination include frequent squinting, closing or covering one eye, headaches or eye strain, difficulty seeing at a distance, holding books or devices unusually close, double vision, persistent eye rubbing, or an eye that turns in or out.
A sudden change in vision, significant eye pain or injury, or a white pupil or abnormal white reflex should be evaluated promptly.
Pediatric Services
Community & School Vision Screenings
Belmont Eye is proud to support children’s vision in our community through school and community vision screenings. Vision screenings are an important way to identify children who may have an eye or vision problem and need further evaluation. If your child does not pass a vision screening, is unable to complete the screening, or you have concerns about their vision, a comprehensive eye examination can determine whether glasses, treatment, or additional monitoring is needed.
Give Yourself The Gift Of Clear Vision.
Schedule an appointment with your eyecare provider today.