Dr. Alaniz leads every exam. She talks with your child first and with you second, and she says what she is about to do before she does it.
Children's eye care in Middleton
Eye exams for kids who read, write and run around all day
Dr. Alaniz sees school-age children with a parent beside them, and she explains every step in plain words. Bring your child's glasses and any note from a teacher.
- A parent stays beside your child
- Vision plans and medical insurance
- Wednesday hours after school
Noticed at home or in class?
Small signs worth a visit
None of these is a diagnosis. Each one is a good reason to book an exam.
Holding things close
Your child brings the page or the screen very near.
Losing their place
Skipping lines, following with a finger, or rereading.
Squinting or rubbing
Squinting at the board, or rubbing their eyes over homework.
Putting off close work
Reading and drawing get pushed aside more than they used to.
School-age checklist
Before school starts, and all year
Five things to tick off. Open each one for the detail.
Book a full eye exam
School-age children are due about once a year, or as often as Dr. Alaniz advises. Late summer fills up, so book early.
Your child's glasses and contact lenses, if any
What you have noticed at home or heard from a teacher
Your vision plan and medical insurance cards
Ask for a note for school
After the exam you take home a copy of the prescription and, if it helps, a short note for the teacher or school nurse.
A copy of the prescription for your records
A note on seating or breaks, when Dr. Alaniz recommends one
Choose glasses that last the school year
Frames are fitted to your child's face on the day and checked again a few weeks later. A spare pair is worth a thought for the backpack.
Fit and comfort first, then color
Ask about impact-resistant lenses for recess
Plan breaks from close work
Homework, tablets and books all ask the eyes to focus up close. A short look across the room about every 20 minutes gives them a rest.
Good light on the page
A comfortable distance from the screen
Pack protective eyewear for sports
Ask about protective eyewear for soccer, basketball and shop class, with or without a prescription.
The exam
What a school-age eye exam is like
About 45 minutes, with a parent in the room. Most of it feels like looking at pictures and lights while Dr. Alaniz asks what your child sees.
We ask your child what they notice, and you add what you have seen
We check how clearly each eye sees, near and far
We look at how the eyes focus, move and work together
Dr. Alaniz checks the health of the eyes and explains what she finds to you and to your child
Who you will see
Your child's care team
One doctor, three helpers, and a front desk that knows the school calendar.
Maiyer Moua
Ophthalmic assistant
Takes the first measurements and keeps children company while they wait.
Christy Fowler
Optical assistant
Helps children pick frames, fits them, and adjusts glasses that get bent in a backpack.
Reggie Dudley
Patient coordinator
Checks your benefits before the visit and books around school days.
Before you book
Questions parents ask
My child sees fine. Do they still need an exam?
Children rarely know how they are supposed to see, so they don't say. An exam checks how clearly the eyes see and how well they work together, even when nothing seems wrong.
How often should my child have an exam?
About once a year during the school years, or as often as Dr. Alaniz advises after the exam.
Does my child need to know the letters?
No. We use pictures, shapes and lights, so children who are still learning to read take part fully.
Who pays for the visit?
A routine exam goes to your vision plan. A visit about an eye problem goes to medical insurance. We check before the visit when we can, and the fees page has the detail.
What if my child's eye is red, or was hit?
Call the office and tell the front desk what happened. For a hit or poke to the eye, a chemical splash or sudden vision loss, go to an emergency room now. If you can't reach us, call 911.
Pick a day that works for school
Send us your name and number, or call. We will find a time after school or on a day off.