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There are many things you can do as a parent to keep your child's eyes healthy. First, pay attention to your child’s eyes as she grows. Give her plenty to look at, and pay attention to how her responses change.  Second, have your child's eyes checked. Sometimes problems occur that you will not be able to catch, even with close observation, so it is extremely important to have your child’s eyes checked by someone who specializes in children's eyesight and vision.

The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends the following eye exam schedule:

• Newborns’ eyes should be checked for general health before they leave the hospital.
• High-risk newborns (including premature babies), those with a family history of eye disease, and those with obvious eye problems should see an ophthalmologist. Your child’s pediatrician will consult with the ophthalmologist.
• By 6 months, all infants should be screened for eye health.
• By age 3½, your child’s eyes should be checked again for any changes.  These eye exams should continue every 2 years as your child grows.  If problems do exist, these check-ups may become more frequent. 

Many people wait until their children are 5 or 6 years old to have an eye exam.  This is too late. 
You should have your child’s vision screened at least once during the first three years of life. No child is too young to have an eye exam.  Problems that are caught before the child’s fourth birthday have a good chance of being corrected.  However, the longer you wait, the more difficult it may be to correct some disorders.  Making sure that your child’s vision is healthy before she enters preschool or school will allow her to learn more easily and better appreciate the sights in the world around her.

Look for warning signs that your child may not be seeing correctly. The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends that parents and caregivers pay attention to the following warning signs. If you notice any of these warning signs, take your child to a doctor. Some are more serious than others, but all deserve a doctor's attention. Remember, the earlier a problem is detected, the easier it will be to fix.

Urgent warning signs—see your doctor immediately if:

• the pupil is white rather than black
  
• sudden swelling, lumpiness, or drooping of the eye lid occurs
  
• the cornea becomes enlarged in one or both eyes

Serious warning signs—see your doctor soon if:

• your child weighs less than two pounds at birth
  
• one or both eyes are turned in or out or are misaligned
  
• tearing, redness, or discharge occurs that continues for several days
  
• your child’s eyes cannot look at you without jiggling or rotating
  
• the pupils are unequal
  
• your child constantly rubs her eyes
  
• the eyes have abnormal or uncoordinated movement after six months
  
• your child keeps her eyes closed most of the time

Warning signs to pay attention to and discuss with your doctor on the next visit:

• poor focusing
  
• squinting
  
• extreme sensitivity to light
  
• poor visual tracking (trouble following an object)
  
• tilting the head when looking at things
  
• holding a book or object extremely close to look at it

If you know that eye diseases run in the family, this would be a good thing to discuss with your doctor during your baby’s next visit.