Pediatric Eye Care in Dayton

Pediatric Eye Care in Dayton

Children's Eye Doctors - Dedicated to Helping Kids See Clearly

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Pediatric Eye Care: Why Is It Important?

  • Concerned that your baby’s eyesight may be hindering their development?
  • Do your toddler’s eyes appear misaligned?

Studies show that up to 10% of preschoolers have vision problems. However, kids generally aren't aware there's an issue, and don't complain about their eyes. It is therefore crucial to detect the first signs of vision problems before complications arise.

Give them the clear vision and healthy eyes they deserve by visiting our Dayton pediatric eye doctor at Shawnee Optical - Dayton.

boy getting eye exam


Safeguard Your Child’s Vision, Now and In the Future

Your Pediatric Eye Care Professional in Dayton

Our optometry practice in Dayton

Photograph of Elizabeth Hardin
Hours
  • Monday 10:00 am - 7:00 pm
  • Tuesday 9:00 am - 5:30 pm
  • Wednesday 9:00 am - 5:30 pm
  • Thursday 10:00 am - 7:00 pm
  • Friday 9:00 am - 5:30 pm
  • Saturday Closed
  • Sunday Closed
Insurance Plans
  • VSP
  • Medicare
  • United Healthcare
  • Aetna
  • Spectera
  • Anthem
  • Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield
  • MetLife

4 Signs Your Child May Have a Vision Problem

  • Trouble seeing electronic screens

    Your child sits very close, tilts their head or squints to better see TVs, computer screens and other electronic screens.

  • Difficulty reading or following moving objects

    Your child often loses their place while reading, or can’t track a ball as it moves when playing sports.

  • Headaches & eye strain

    Your child complains of tired eyes or headaches after performing tasks that are visually intensive, such as reading or writing.

  • Missed milestones

    Your child may miss milestones such as crawling and walking, or show signs of poor depth perception.

For your child to successfully engage in sports and achieve their academic potential, they need to have healthy eyes and clear vision. The experienced and caring children's eye doctors at Shawnee Optical - Dayton will carefully examine their eyes and provide guidance to ensure your child’s healthy vision.


Pediatric Eye Exams: What You Need to Know

  • Baby’s First Eye Exam- 6 months old

    Though your baby won’t be able to speak yet, we can still assess their eye health. Is there anything abnormal about their eyes' appearance? Do the eyes move in unison? Can your baby’s eyes follow a toy or a familiar face in motion? Do they respond to light? Your child’s general eye health will be assessed for infection, or eye conditions such as an eye turn or potentially sight-threatening eye disease.

  • Eye Exams for Toddlers and Preschoolers: Ages 2 - 5

    At Shawnee Optical - Dayton we do our best to make eye exams fun for the little ones; we use toys and other fun objects where possible, and our eye charts for little kids feature colorful shapes or pictures that they’ll recognize. We check for poor depth perception, color vision problems, strabismus/amblyopia (eye turns/lazy eye), and problems with visual focusing. Our optometrist may dilate your preschooler’s pupils to get a better view of their retina, optic nerve and blood vessels.

  • Eye Exams of School-Age Kids: Ages 6 - 18

    For this age group, our eye care team will use advanced technologies to assess refractive errors and determine how well the visual system is functioning. This includes checking for difficulties with distance and near vision and signs of eye disease, eye-coordination problems or other health conditions.

Patient Reviews
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99 Reviews
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- Apr. 22, 2024
Best eye doctor and caring staff in town!
- Apr. 04, 2024
The staff here are top notch! So kind and helpful. Dr Hardin is a true gift!
- Mar. 26, 2024
All women; very professional; very thorough. I could not be happier with my experience there.
- Mar. 25, 2024
Great service
- Feb. 28, 2024
Dr. Hardin is the best. Very knowledgeable. I've gone here for years and she is the best doctor to b... e there. I highly recommend.
- Feb. 23, 2024
I LOVE Dr Hardin and her staff! They are all so nice and knowledgeable. You never feel rushed or pre... ssured and Dr Hardin KNOWS HER STUFF! She’s the best eye doctor I’ve ever been to.
- Feb. 14, 2024
Dr. Harden is caring, thorough, personable, and explains things extremely well. The staff is caring,... personable, and competent.
- Dec. 28, 2023
The place is always clean and staff are very helpful. If you are utilizing insurance they do a great... job of making sure you get the best bang for your buck. Very happy to have a reliable doctor for all my questions.
- Nov. 23, 2023
Im so glad i changed eye drs. I was going to My Eye Dr in austin landing, and i learned that the con... tacts they gave me were wrong, and i had eye issues i didnt know about. Dr. Hardin and her staff are so nice, and very detailed. I would highly recommend them.
- Nov. 12, 2023
Dr. Hardin is passionate about her job and I actually look forward to eye exams. Her entire staff at... Shawnee Optical is excellent.
- Nov. 05, 2023
Dr. Hardin is the best eye doctor I've seen. She takes her time with exams and thoroughly explains h... er findings. She is kind and you can tell she really cares about her patients. Her staff are a joy to enteract with also. They are all friendly and helpful. You can tell they enjoy their jobs. Would highly recommend Shawnee Optical!
- Oct. 28, 2023
Super sweet staff. Had a lovely time.
- Oct. 01, 2023
Doctor very thorough during examination. Staff helpful and friendly.
- Sep. 22, 2023
Everything I would want and expect in a business!
- Sep. 11, 2023
5 star service from Dr Hardin and staff. All are very friendly, attentive, knowledgeable and thoro... ugh. I highly recommend ⭐️
- Sep. 06, 2023
Excellent service
- Sep. 03, 2023
By far the best place to receive 5star service in a clean friendly environment. I absolutely recomme... nd this place for families with or without children.
- Aug. 11, 2023
The team at Shawnee Optical was welcoming and efficient the moment I walked in the door. Dr. Hardin ... offered in-depth explanations of my eyes that no other optometrist has ever bothered to provide and she was available to answer any additional questions I had. The team even went above and beyond to help me save money on my prescriptions which was a thoughtful and much appreciated gesture. Do yourself a favor and go see the team at Shawnee Optical.
- Jul. 26, 2023
Dr. Hardin quite literally saved my vision. She is amazing.
- Jun. 16, 2023
Dr Hardin and staff are the best!! Very knowledgeable, and make you feel like family. Dr Hardin kno... ws her stuff!!! And throughly explains her findings.

View All 99 Reviews

Pediatric Eye Care FAQs

How do you take care of kids
  • Make sure they wear sunglasses and a hat to protect their eyes from dangerous UV rays when outside.
  • Increase the time they spend outdoors. 
  • Make sure they eat their fruits and veggies. Fruits and veggies high in lutein and zeaxanthin have been found to protect eyes from free radical damage.
  • Schedule regular pediatric eye exams. Detecting and treating eye conditions and diseases commonly found in children, such as strabismus and amblyopia, can help prevent unnecessary struggles and vision problems later in life. The pediatric eye doctor will also check your child’s vision for refractive errors and visual skill deficiencies that might hinder your child’s development.
At what age should I bring my child for their first eye exam?

Our pediatric eye professionals recommend you bring your child in for their first eye exam at around 6 months of age. This allows your child’s eye doctor to check that their vision is progressing as expected. Early detection and treatment of certain conditions at this stage of development are essential for keeping your child’s vision and eye health on track, and can help prevent complications as they grow up.

Can I use Ortho-K lenses if I have dry eye syndrome?

While kids may wear glasses from as early as a few months of age, most kids who wear glasses tend to get them between the ages of 6 and 12. The three main conditions for which they wear eyeglasses are myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness) and astigmatism.


eye exam for kids in Dayton

Your child deserves to see the world clearly!

Shawnee Optical - Dayton pediatric eye doctors can help.

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