Pediatric Optometrist in Northbrook, IL

Both Dr. Zost and Dr. Sorenson have served as clinical instructors of Pediatrics and Binocular Vision at the Illinois College of Optometry, and are experts at pediatric eye and vision care. The American Optometric Association recommends that children receive a complete vision exam at the ages of six months, three years, and then yearly while the child is in school. Illinois requires that children have a complete evaluation prior to entry into kindergarten.

A child’s visual system guides development of their motor system- it tells them where things are so they can reach for them or crawl towards them. A high prescription, strabismus, or amblyopia can impact the development of motor milestones, so it is important to detect these problems early. As the child continues to grow, exploring space and the world around them is a critical component to normal development of the focusing, eye coordination, and tracking systems. These skills will be extremely important for a child’s school readiness and their ability to learn.

We are able to evaluate non-verbal or pre-reader children using a variety of objective methods. Our doctors are not dependent on subjective responses from our young patients. We use specialized instrumentation and evaluation methods that are not only efficient and accurate, but often are quite fun for our younger patients!

It is important that after starting school, children receive yearly eye exams to ensure they are visually ready for the learning that takes place in the classroom at each grade level. With children learning to read earlier and increasing digital device use, efficient visual skills are more important than ever. Our pediatric eye exams closely evaluate how the eyes work together, focus, and track. If a problem is detected, vision therapy may be recommended to treat the condition.

Children with special needs have a higher rate of vision problems than the general population. High prescriptions, strabismus, amblyopia, and visual perceptual problems are more common in special needs children. Delays in vision development often accompany other developmental delays. Children on the autism spectrum may have visual hypersensitivity that contributes to difficulties with sensory integration. Functional vision problems can also impact attention, so if your child has ADHD symptoms, having a vision problem ruled out is important.

Myopia is on the rise in children, and higher amounts of nearsightedness are associated with developing eye diseases later in life. Our office now offers axial length measurement to monitor myopia progression, and myopia management services