Ask the Doc Published Oct. 5, 2006 POPE AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. -- Q: When should my kids get their first vision exam by an eye doctor? A: A child's first eye examination should be scheduled by 6 months of age, performed by your family physician or pediatrician. When no abnormalities are detected at this age, the next examination should be scheduled at age 3 with an optometrist or ophthalmologist. If your child has risk factors for visual impairment, such as prematurity, infection of mother during pregnancy, high refractive error, strabismus (misaligned eyes), family history of cancer of the eye, congenital cataracts, or a genetic disease, they should be monitored more frequently as prescribed by your provider. An estimated 20 percent of schoolage children have vision problems and these may interfere with their ability to reach full potential in school. Therefore, all schoolage children should routinely have comprehensive vision examinations.