
Why are eye exams important?
Eye examinations are done with children of all ages to look for signs of early eye disease and to make sure eyes are working properly. The pediatricians at Northpoint Pediatrics follow the American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines for eye exams and begin basic eye exams at the first newborn appointments.View the AAP vision screening guidelines.
If an eye exam uncovers a potential issue, it can be hard to determine the best course of action in infants and young children. These youngest patients simply don’t have the communication skills to tell us what they can and cannot see. The Spot Vision Screener eliminates the guessing game and gives an accurate assessment of eyes in children as young a six months.
A new way to test eyes
The Spot Vision Screener is a handheld, portable device that is easy for nurses to use and provides immediate test results. The machine can test for the following:- Myopia: nearsightedness
- Hyperopia: farsightedness
- Astigmatism: blurred vision
- Anisometropia: unequal refractive power between eyes
- Amblyopia: lazy eye
- Strabismus: eye misalignment
- Anisocoria: unequal pupil size

How does the Spot Vision Screener work?
The nurse stands approximately three feet from the patient and holds up the machine to screen both eyes at the same time. The screening typically takes less than one minute and uses lights and sounds to engage the patient during screening. A patient response is not required - making it ideal for infants and young children who are not yet talking.Northpoint Pediatrics is currently performing the Spot Vision Screen at 6 months, 15 months, 3 years, 4 years, and 5 years - and older if a child is unable to perform the routine vision screening.
Snellen vision charts - traditional vision screening where the patient must be able to participate - are performed at ages 6, 8, 10, 12, 15, and 18.
Benefits of early vision screening with Spot Vision

- Helps prevent the leading cause of blindness in children: amblyopia
- Fast, accurate screening
- A simple machine that is not invasive or intimidating
Northpoint Pediatrics is one of the only pediatrician offices in Indianapolis that routinely uses Spot Vision Screening. If you are not currently a Northpoint patient you can learn more about this tool by contacting our office for a Get Acquainted Visit.