Understanding the Results of a Pediatric Refraction Eye Exam

After your child has had a pediatric refraction eye exam, it’s essential to understand the results and what they reveal about your child’s vision. You may have scheduled the exam because your child has been squinting, complaining about frequent headaches, or struggling to see the board clearly at school. A pediatrician might have also recommended further testing after a routine vision screening. No matter the reason, understanding the results will provide clarity on how to address your child’s eye health and vision concerns. 

While your eye doctor will review the results in detail, having a basic understanding of the key findings will help you feel confident about the next steps in your child’s vision care. Keep reading to learn more about what to expect from your child’s pediatric refraction eye exam results and how to move forward with their eye health. 

What Happens During a Refraction Test?

A pediatric refraction test is a crucial component of your child’s eye exam. This test helps determine how well your child can see by measuring how light interacts with the retina, the light-sensitive layer at the back of the eye. The results of this test are essential in deciding whether your child needs glasses or another form of vision correction. Your child’s eye doctor may perform several types of refraction tests, including: 

• Computerized Test: This advanced test uses technology to measure the amount of light passing through your child’s eyes, helping assess their vision clarity. 

• Manual Light Reflex Test: In this test, the doctor shines light into each eye and measures how much light reflects off the retina. This gives important information about the overall quality of your child’s vision. 

• Phoropter Test: During this exam, your child will look through a device called a phoropter, which is placed in front of their eyes. They’ll then focus on an eye chart from 20 feet away, identifying the smallest row of letters or images they can clearly see. 

Since children often focus on nearby objects rather than distant ones, dilation is often used to ensure accurate results. To achieve this, optometrists may use cycloplegic refraction, where special eye drops temporarily relax the focusing muscles in the eye, allowing for precise measurements of farsightedness and refractive errors. 

How Often Your Child Should Get an Eye Exam

In the first year, your child should see an eye doctor once between 6 and 12 months to check that their eyes are properly aligned and to rule out conditions like congenital cataracts, significant farsightedness, and early amblyopia. The next exam is recommended between ages 3 and early kindergarten, an important time to identify uncorrected vision problems, binocular vision issues, and amblyopia when treatment is most effective. 

After beginning school and completing a baseline vision exam—which confirms clear and comfortable vision for reading and near tasks and establishes a pre-school prescription baseline—annual eye exams are recommended. These yearly visits help keep prescriptions current during rapid growth phases, monitor the progression of nearsightedness, and screen for digital eye strain.

Refractive Errors in Young Children

When your eye doctor tells you that your child has 20/20 vision, it means their eyesight is sharp and there are no refractive errors present, indicating normal vision. A “zero” on your child’s chart confirms that their vision is clear and doesn’t require corrective lenses. However, refractive errors are quite common in children. These errors occur when light entering the eye doesn’t focus properly on the retina. The most common refractive errors include: 

• Myopia (nearsightedness) makes it difficult to see distant objects clearly, such as writing on the board at school. With myopia, light is focused in front of the retina instead of directly on it. 

• Hyperopia (farsightedness) causes difficulty focusing on nearby objects. In hyperopia, light focuses behind the retina. Some children may have mild hyperopia in early childhood, which may resolve naturally as they grow older. 

• Astigmatism results in blurred vision both near and far. This happens when the cornea is irregularly shaped, often resembling more of an oval than a round shape. The uneven shape of the cornea causes light to focus at multiple points, preventing clear vision. Astigmatism can be present from birth or develop later in life due to injury or illness. It’s also possible for a child to have astigmatism along with either myopia or hyperopia. 

Common Parental Worries 

Taking your child to see an eye doctor can be a stressful experience, especially when you don’t know what to expect. Here are some of the most common concerns parents have when scheduling eye exams for their children. 

Does my child really need this test?

 If you’ve noticed your little one squinting at the TV, holding tablets inches from their face, or complaining of headaches after school, those behaviors can all point to an uncorrected refractive error. A pediatric refraction pinpoints whether the eyes are focusing light properly so problems like nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism don’t sneak up on learning and play. 

What actually happens in the exam room?

The whole process only takes about 15 minutes and is totally painless. Here’s a quick, simple rundown of what will occur: 

1. Retinoscopy/Autorefractor – The doctor shines a light or uses a hand‑held device while your child looks at a target; no answers required. 

2. Phoropter choices – Older kids look through the familiar lens dials and simply pick “Which is clearer, 1 or 2?” 

3. Cycloplegic drops (if needed) – A mild, temporary eyedrop keeps the focusing muscles from “cheating,” giving the most accurate prescription for fast‑changing young eyes. 

What do the numbers on the Rx slip mean?

The terms on your child’s prescription can be confusing. We’ve provided a short table to help you, but you can always bring the slip to any The EyeDoctors Optometrists location and we’ll translate it again, no judgment. 

• Sphere (SPH): How strong the lens must be to sharpen vision. Negative means nearsighted, while positive means farsighted. 

• Cylinder (CYL): Extra power to correct astigmatism (football-shaped cornea). 

• Axis: The direction the astigmatism correction sits in the lens. 

• OD / OS / OU: Right eye / left eye / both. 

What to Do After Receiving Your Child's Results

Once your child’s exam results are available, the optometrist will explain the prescription in straightforward terms—what the numbers mean, how they affect both near and distant vision, and whether immediate action is needed. It’s a great idea to request a printed copy of the results or take a photo for your reference, so you can share them with teachers or caregivers. If a refractive error is detected, eyeglasses are typically the first recommendation. Your doctor will help you choose sturdy, child-friendly frames and impact-resistant lenses designed to fit your child’s active lifestyle. 

As your child matures, they might express interest in trying contact lenses. Daily disposable lenses can be an option for children as young as 8-10 years old, especially if they’re interested in sports or want to enhance their self-confidence. Your optometrist will discuss the different types of contact lenses and help you select the best one for your child’s specific age, lifestyle, and preferences. 

Additionally, a follow-up appointment is usually scheduled within the year to monitor your child’s vision and ensure any changes in their prescription are addressed. Regular visits are crucial for maintaining the correct prescription as your child grows, helping them succeed in their academic, athletic, and social activities.