My Child Is Nervous About Their Eye Exam: How Can I Prepare Them?
If your child is feeling nervous about their upcoming eye exam, they’re not alone. Many kids are fearful about doctor visits — eye exams included!
Here at Eye Q Optique, Dr. Debbie Simon, Dr. Emily Davis and Dr. Romaya Ahmed are experts when it comes to pediatric eye care. Our team treats eye infections, removes foreign bodies from eyes, assesses vision, and conducts routine eye exams.
If your child is feeling nervous about their upcoming eye exam, here are several steps you can take to help ease their anxiety.
Explain the process
Knowledge helps eliminate “the fear of the unknown,” so be sure to explain what will happen during their eye exam. Ideally, choose a quiet place during an unrushed moment of the day.
During an exam, your child can expect to:
Sit in a comfortable chair while their Eye Q Optique optometrist discusses their eye health history and medical history
Talk about any problems with their eyes, such as reaching the whiteboard at school, headaches, squinting, or anything else that bothers them
Read numbers and letters on an eye chart
Look through special lenses to see which options provide the clearest vision
Remind your child that it’s not a test that they “fail.” Rather, it’s all about what helps them see the best.
If your child already wears glasses, be sure to bring them to the appointment. Explain that their upcoming exam is designed to make sure that they have the most up-to-date prescription so they can see clearly.
Address their concerns
Take the time to listen to your child's concerns; ask what specific elements make them nervous, and answer any questions they may have. For many children who’ve never had an eye exam, the top worry is, “Will it hurt?” Reassure them that there's nothing to be afraid of and that the eye exam is quick and painless.
If your child is nervous about needing glasses, talk about all of the positive ways glasses can improve their life. Glasses can help alleviate headaches, make it easier to read the board, and even make watching TV more enjoyable.
Read books about eye exams
There are plenty of children's books and videos available that explain what happens during an eye exam in a fun and friendly way. Consider reading a book or watching a video together to help alleviate your child's anxiety.
Prevent Blindness, an initiative of the National Center for Children’s Vision and Eye Health, has curated a list of 25 children’s books that explain vision as well as wearing glasses.
Tip: Look for your child’s favorite characters. Many popular characters have special episodes about doctor visits.
Lead by example
If you wear glasses or contacts, talk to your child about your own experiences with eye exams. Let them know that it's a normal part of taking care of your health and that there's nothing to worry about.
Focus on something positive after the exam
Consider planning something fun — such as a trip to get ice cream or a time to play a board game together — after the eye exam so your child has something fun to look forward to. This can help motivate them, make the experience more positive, and help distract from any jitters.
Schedule their appointment earlier in the day
If your child is particularly nervous, consider scheduling their eye exam earlier in the day. This way, they can cross it off their list and won’t fret about it all day long.
Need to schedule a pediatric eye exam? Let us know!
Whether you suspect your child needs eyeglasses, or you’re just scheduling a routine eye exam, our friendly team is here to help. We know that eye exams can be a little nerve-wracking for first-time patients, especially children. That's why we strive to create a comfortable and welcoming environment at our office locations in Buffalo Grove and Chicago, Illinois.
Call the location of your choice or simply click here to get started.