# When Should My Child Have an Eye Exam in Titusville?

Aker Eye Vision Source · https://akereyecenter.com/answers/childrens-eye-exams-in-titusville

**Summary:** The American Optometric Association recommends a first eye exam between 6 and 12 months, another at age 3, one before school starts, and then one every two years. At Aker Eye Vision Source, Dr. Jennifer Bradley sees children at our Playalinda office, 1114 S Washington Ave. Her residency at the Illinois College of Optometry was in pediatrics and binocular vision. Dr. Greg Aker and Dr. Amanda Aker see children Downtown at 338 S Washington Ave. Plan on about an hour for a first exam. Missed one of those ages? Bring your child in now, and call (321) 269-2021 to book.

Updated 2026-09-28

## School vision screening or a full eye exam: what gets checked?

| | School screening | Eye exam with us |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Distance vision | Yes, reading a chart across the room | Yes, far and near |
| Farsightedness and focusing | No | Yes, with drops for a true prescription |
| Eye teaming and alignment | No | Yes, plus depth perception and color vision |
| Eye health | No | Yes, with a dilated view inside the eye |

## What is a pediatric eye exam, and how is it done?

It is a full eye exam built for a child, and your child does not need to know letters. With babies and toddlers we use lights, pictures, and lenses to see that each eye focuses and that the two eyes line up and move together. Older kids read letters or shapes. A [kids' eye exam](https://akereyecenter.com/services/pediatric-eye-exams) with us checks vision, depth perception, color vision, eye alignment, and the health of the eyes. You stay in the room the whole time.

## Is a school vision screening the same as an eye exam?

No. A screening asks one question: can your child read a chart across the room? It does a fair job of catching nearsightedness, and it stops there. It does not check farsightedness, focusing, how the eyes team up, or eye health. That is how a child can pass at school and still lose their place on every page. If your child failed a screening, bring the note to their [eye exam](https://akereyecenter.com/services/pediatric-eye-exams). If they passed and you still wonder, bring them anyway.

## How long does a child's eye exam take?

Plan on about an hour for a first exam. That time covers vision, the prescription, depth perception, color vision, eye alignment, and a dilated look at eye health, at a pace that suits your child. Later exams are usually shorter. If a doctor visit has gone badly before, tell us when you book and we will plan a slower pace. Bring a snack for a little one, and leave time to pick out [children's frames](https://akereyecenter.com/services/glasses-and-frames) if glasses are on the list.

> **About an hour**: for a child's first eye exam, in Dr. Bradley's own words. (https://akereyecenter.com/services/pediatric-eye-exams)

## Will my child's eyes be dilated?

Yes, expect dilating drops at a first exam. The drops do two jobs. They let us see the health of the eyes, and they relax the focusing muscles so we can measure your child's true prescription. They sting for a few seconds. After that, near vision is blurry and the eyes are sensitive to light for a few hours. Bring sunglasses and plan a quiet afternoon with no homework. [Dr. Bradley](https://akereyecenter.com/about/dr-jennifer-bradley) or any of us will answer your questions about them at the visit.

## How much does a pediatric eye exam cost?

With a vision plan, it is usually a copay, since most plans cover a yearly exam for children. Medical insurance covers a visit for a medical problem, such as an eye turn, a lazy eye, or an infection. We check your benefits before the visit and tell you what you will owe. No coverage? Call us at (321) 269-2021 and we will give you the self-pay price before you book. We work with [most vision plans and medical insurance](https://akereyecenter.com/insurance).

## Can you help with a lazy eye, an eye turn, or nearsightedness that keeps getting worse?

Yes. Dr. Bradley treats amblyopia, a lazy eye where one eye did not develop properly, and strabismus, an eye that turns in or out. She also treats binocular vision disorders, when the two eyes do not work well as a team. All of these are easier to help while a child is young. For children and teenagers whose nearsightedness climbs with every new pair, she offers myopia management. She sees these children at [our Playalinda office](https://akereyecenter.com/locations/playalinda).

## Can kids wear contact lenses?

Yes, once they can handle them, and that depends more on the child than the age. A child who can put a lens in, take it out, and keep up with cleaning is usually ready. Daily lenses make that easier. Dr. Bradley at Playalinda and Dr. Amanda Aker Downtown both fit MiSight lenses, which are designed to slow nearsightedness in children. A [contact lens fitting](https://akereyecenter.com/services/contact-lenses) is its own visit, and your child practices with us before going home.

## Related pages

- [Kids' eye exams](https://akereyecenter.com/services/pediatric-eye-exams)
- [Dr. Jennifer Bradley](https://akereyecenter.com/about/dr-jennifer-bradley)
- [Our Playalinda office](https://akereyecenter.com/locations/playalinda)
- [Glasses and frames](https://akereyecenter.com/services/glasses-and-frames)
- [Contact lens exams](https://akereyecenter.com/services/contact-lenses)

---

Aker Eye Vision Source, Titusville, FL. Call or text (321) 269-2021. Book online: https://akereyecenter.com/book. Every page: https://akereyecenter.com/llms.txt.