Southside Eyecare & Optical provides eye exams for children ages 5 and older, from kindergarten through the teen years. A children's eye exam goes well beyond a school or pediatrician screening. Dr. Jacquelyn Lamigo and Dr. Christie Stemmle check how clearly your child sees, how well the eyes work together, and the health of the eyes themselves, so problems are caught early while vision is still developing.
Yes. School screenings usually check only distance vision. They can miss farsightedness, astigmatism, eye alignment problems, and eye health conditions. At Southside Eyecare & Optical in Anchorage, we see children ages 5 and older for full eye exams.
If your child needs glasses, our ABO-certified opticians help them choose frames they will actually want to wear, then adjust them in our on-site lab for a comfortable, secure fit.
We see children starting at age 5. Plan for an exam before your child starts school, then once a year after that.
Many vision problems have no obvious symptoms, and children often don't realize they aren't seeing clearly. Watch for:
Amblyopia happens when one eye develops weaker vision than the other. It is often caused by eyes that don't line up (strabismus) or by a big difference in prescription between the two eyes. The earlier it is found, the better it responds to treatment.
Signs to watch for include:
If your child is struggling with reading or schoolwork, an eye exam is the place to start. We check how well each eye sees, how the eyes work together, and the health of the eye itself, and we tell you plainly what we find and what to do next. Call 907-561-1167 or request an appointment.
Nearsightedness (myopia) that starts in childhood often gets stronger as kids grow, which means thicker lenses and a higher risk of eye problems later in life. Southside Eyecare & Optical offers myopia control, which aims to slow how quickly a child's nearsightedness progresses.
If your child is nearsighted, or their prescription keeps changing year to year, ask about myopia control at their exam. Our doctors will explain whether it is a good fit and what the options involve.
Let them know the exam doesn't hurt and that they will look at pictures and lights. Bring any glasses they already wear. If their eyes are dilated, sunglasses help on the way home, and close-up vision may be blurry for a few hours.
Request an appointment online or call 907-561-1167.