Eye Exam

We have done eye exams with both kids. Oldest started at about 2 and our second at about 18 months. We had to go to a special Dr who specialized in under 3. They do a lot with stickers to get them to look at things so they can look at their eyes at different lengths. They also have little 3d books with circles and flies and they tell the kids to point at the ones that jump out at them or grab the flies wings.

For older kids they can do pictures instead of letters. Like an apple, a cake, a horse. My experience is that they'll try a couple of different ways to find the thing that works with the toddlers age and level of communication since it's pretty varied.

The hardest but was having the eyes dialated but it's over quick. You have to wait like 20-30 minutes after the drop so planning a treat or an activity is good. The first appointment can be a long one if they dialate.

My kids both have strabismus (wandering eye). Oldest ended up having surgery at 3.5. our youngest is in glasses to help correct.

Bringing a stuffed animal is a nice thing to do cause the eye dr can show what they are going to do on the stuffed animal

They honestly didn't touch our kids faces that much. It's mostly looking at pictures or getting them to look near or far and they look at their eyes with little like refraction boxes and lenses.

A bit more touching for fitting frames if they need glasses. I would highly recommend finding a place that really knows toddlers if you get a glasses prescription. The place we went did not know how to fit the 18 month old. But that's really the only place they touched her face