Pediatrics

Pediatric Eye Center at Horizon Eye Care

When a baby is born, he or she is examined for any eye infections that can sometimes be spread from the mother’s birth canal. The baby is also examined for abnormal reactions to light, for cataracts, and any other eye disorders.

Once a little older, examination may involve the pediatric eye doctor covering one eye and using a toy to judge reactions or placing a prism over the eyes to test if one eye is stronger than the other. Amblyopia (also known as "Lazy Eye") commonly starts when one eye has better focus than the other. If left untreated before the age of 6 or 7, amblyopia can permanently damage a child’s vision.

Why are regular eye exams important for children?

The primary concern among school-age children is the unrecognized development of nearsightedness or farsightedness. All school-age children should have their vision evaluated regularly during primary health care visits, in schools or at public screenings. Screenings determine how well the child is seeing, as well as the alignment of his or her eyes.

School-age vision tests are for visual acuity and eye alignment, but a child with clear vision might still have other vision problems. If you notice any apparent vision troubles, regardless of school vision test results, take your child for a thorough eye exam with a Horizon Eye Care pediatric eye doctor.

Depending on the child’s age and ability to respond, testing varies. The primary concern of pediatric ophthalmologists is two-fold: to protect the patient’s long-term vision and to provide a pleasant experience. A pediatric eye exam may involve matching games, cartoons, short films or flashing toys. Or, if the child is able, he or she may be tested on the vision chart.

Retinoscopy is another technique, which objectively determines the refractive error of the eye (nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism) and the need for glasses. The test is performed using a handheld instrument called a retinoscope, which projects light into the eye. Because most children do not like the sting caused by dilating drops, Horizon also offers Optomap, a new non-dilation procedure. Of note, Optomap is not always an option and the extra cost is not covered by insurance.

Most childhood vision problems can be treated with a pair of eyeglasses. If your child needs glasses, our kids’ glasses start at $99 for frames and polycarbonate prescription lenses. One of our Optical Technicians can help fit your child for the perfect pair. Popular brands include Miraflex and DilliDalli, both of which are flexible, durable and safe.

Pediatric eye conditions

Strabismus

Strabismus, which refers to any misalignment of the eyes, is a common condition affecting 3-4 percent of children. Strabismus is sometimes referred to as crossed eyes, wandering eyes or lazy eyes. It most commonly affects children in the first few years of life. During this crucial period for the development of sight, eye misalignment can lead to long-term visual dysfunction.

Pediatric eye care treatments

Horizon Eye Care strives to preserve and restore vision through a variety of strabismus treatments, including:

• Glasses
• Prisms
• Eye exercises
• Eye muscle surgery

It is never too late to straighten the eyes but timely treatment of strabismus soon after its onset gives children the best chance for normal visual development. When surgery is necessary, it is performed as an outpatient procedure. Most children are back to their normal activities within a few days.

Amblyopia

Amblyopia, which is sometimes caused by strabismus, refers to reduced vision in an eye that is otherwise structurally normal. It typically results when the brain is exposed to blurry or misdirected images from one or both eyes during the critical period for visual development. The most common cause of amblyopia is simply the need for glasses (refractive amblyopia).

There are usually no symptoms for refractive amblyopia; it can only be detected when vision is tested in each eye independently. Refractive amblyopia is common enough that pediatricians and school systems perform vision screening to discover it, but many children are undetected. Set up an examination with a pediatric ophthalmologist at Horizon Eye Care before your child starts kindergarten to ensure that potential problems are detected early enough to allow treatment.

Treatments

Most amblyopia can be cured if treatment is initiated at a young age. Treatments for amblyopia rapidly start to lose their effect after age seven. Treatment for amblyopia may include:

• Glasses
• Regular eye-patching (we carry the brand Ortopad, which offers fun designs just for children)
• Blurring eye drops

For strabismic amblyopia, the misalignment usually must be corrected.

Medications

Atrophine is frequently prescribed for treatment of amblyopia.

Frequently Asked Questions About Children's Eye Care

When should my child have their first eye exam?

Horizon Eye Care is a kid-friendly practice specializing in the treatment of children of all ages, including newborns. There is no set age for a first eye exam; it's different for every child. Our children eye doctors can provide guidance based on your child's specific needs and risk factors.

At what age can my child begin to see a non-pediatric eye doctor?

This differs for every child. At Horizon Eye Care, our pediatric doctors and other ophthalmologists work together to determine when your child is ready to make the switch. We ensure your child's smooth transition and a lifetime of the highest-quality eye care.

How long will my child's complete eye exam take?

Our routine pediatric eye exams typically last between an hour and an hour and a half. This allows our specialists sufficient time to thoroughly examine your child's eyes and vision in a comfortable, unhurried environment.

Do you accept my insurance for my child's eye care?

Horizon Eye Care participates in most medical insurance plans offered in Charlotte and North Carolina. These plans typically cover the evaluation and treatment of medical conditions involving the eye. It is always best to call your plan or check your plan website to verify in-network providers.

While some insurance companies provide routine eye care benefits as part of the basic plan and allow you to see any participating eye doctor, many employers choose a separate product for routine eye care. Routine eye care is defined as the benefit that allows you to get a routine eye exam along with a prescription for glasses.

If you have a separate insurance company for vision benefits, you will typically select from a network of eye doctors. Not all vision plans provide you with an insurance card, so be sure to call your medical insurance carrier and ask if your routine vision benefits are administered by your medical plan or by another company. Horizon Eye Care is considered out-of-network for some routine eye care plans, but most of our physicians accept Vision Service Plan (VSP), most Eyemed Plans, Community Eye Care and the participating BCBS discount plans. Horizon Eye does not accept UHCVision, Davis Vision, or Superior Vision.

Keep in mind that if your child has a medical condition with either or both eyes, we can file the claim to your medical insurance company, and you will get in-network benefits. Additionally, if your insurance company administers the routine eye benefit, we can likely see you and you will have in-network benefits. Some of these routine eye care programs have out-of-network benefits that can reduce the cost of your visit. Horizon Eye Care offers competitive fees for routine eye exams.

How much do you charge for a child's routine eye exam, and what is included?

If you do not have insurance coverage for a routine eye exam, our fee is $180. This is a discounted rate available only when paid in full at the time of service. This fee includes the medical examination of your child's eyes and refraction. The refraction is the portion of the exam where the doctor determines the prescription needed for glasses. There will be an additional charge for contact lens fittings and checks.

If you have insurance coverage for routine eye care and Horizon is a participating provider, we receive a contracted reimbursement rate from your insurance company. We will bill your insurance company our standard charge, and you will receive an explanation of benefits from your insurance company.

Please note that if you have a deductible or co-insurance, your responsibility is a portion of our contracted rate due to your insurance company and not the $180 price described above. It is important to note that insurance companies frequently deny the refraction portion of your eye exam as a non-covered benefit. When this happens the patient becomes responsible for this charge.

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