When it comes to your child’s health, we know how important it is to get things right — and eye care is no exception.
At our Nashua and Milford, NH Focused Eye Care locations, we take children’s eye health seriously. As back-to-school season approaches, now is the ideal time to schedule a pediatric eye exam before the busy school year begins. From first-time appointments to updated frames and new prescriptions, our team is proud to offer compassionate, experienced care for kids of every age and for the whole family.
We know medical appointments can feel intimidating for children (and parents!). That’s why we’ve built our practice around being local, family-friendly and focused on making every visit as comfortable as possible.
To help families prepare for back-to-school appointments, we sat down with our pediatric optometrist, Dr. Catherine Johnson, to answer the questions we hear most often from parents in Nashua, Milford and the surrounding Southern New Hampshire communities.
When should my child have their first eye exam?
A child should have their first eye exam at 18 months old, then annually after that. Some children need to be seen even earlier — for example, if there are concerns about vision or development, if they have a medical condition that could affect the eyes or if there’s a family history of childhood eye problems.
How do you keep kids (and parents) calm during eye exams?
At Focused Eye Care, we start every pediatric appointment by getting to know the child first. We ask what makes them nervous, what they’re interested in and what specific concerns the family has before any testing begins. That conversation helps the whole family feel comfortable and at ease.
We believe eye exams can be both educational and fun, helping children feel comfortable every step of the way. The eye doctor’s office might not be a kid’s first choice for summer fun, but with toys, familiar characters and a little silliness mixed in with the serious parts, we help children leave with a positive memory of their visit. That makes every appointment after the first one a lot less scary — and sometimes even something they look forward to.
We involve kids in the process by explaining exactly what to expect before we begin, so nothing comes as a surprise, and we move at whatever pace is comfortable for that child. We always leave time for questions during and after the exam, provide handouts for any diagnosis that comes up and stay available by phone afterward, because it can take time for families to process what they’ve learned.
How do you make sure my child’s eyeglass prescription is accurate?
For young children, or any child who can’t reliably answer subjective questions like “Which is clearer, one or two?” — we measure the prescription objectively. This usually involves dilating eye drops, which prevent a child’s eye-focusing system from fluctuating during measurement. We use tools like retinoscopes and automated instruments to get an objective reading, and even with older kids, we compare subjective and objective measurements to confirm accuracy.
This is one of the biggest differences between pediatric and adult eye exams: dilating drops help us get an accurate glasses prescription and let the doctor fully evaluate your child’s eye health.
How do you help kids find the right glasses for their lifestyle?
Choosing frames starts with getting to know the child. Are they into sports? Do their glasses need to fit under a helmet? Are they rough on their belongings? Sensitive to sunlight? Answering those questions helps our Optical Experts recommend the right fit, whether that’s flexible frames, sports goggles or sun-reactive lenses.
Beyond function, we make sure kids leave loving how their glasses look, too. From fun patterns to sparkly lenses, we carry a wide selection of kids’ eyewear so every child finds a frame that feels like them.
Browse our pediatric frame selection and try on online
What makes Focused Eye Care a family-friendly practice?
Our doctors and staff welcome patients of every age with patience and understanding. Our pediatric patients get their own dedicated floor and play area, plus toys and child-sized clinical tools in the exam room. For busy families, we can schedule siblings back-to-back in the same visit. With doctors experienced in caring for all ages — from toddlers to grandparents — we love getting to know and care for entire families across our Nashua and Milford communities.
Ready to schedule your child’s back-to-school eye exam?
Meet Dr. Catherine Johnson, Pediatric Optometrist
Dr. Catherine Johnson is Focused Eye Care’s pediatric optometrist, with 20 years of experience caring for children’s vision. She completed her residency in Pediatric Optometry at the New England College of Optometry, with clinical experience spanning specialty pediatric ophthalmology practices, community-based pediatric eye clinics and the low vision clinic at the Perkins School for the Blind, where she cared for children with visual impairment and multiple disabilities. She specializes in infants and young children, school-age kids and children and adults with disabilities.
One of the most rewarding parts of her work is watching a child with a strong prescription try on glasses for the first time and see their world open up. Outside the office, Dr. Johnson loves spending time with her three children and staying active through strength training, long walks and sports. Originally from Canada, she now lives in Andover, Massachusetts, with her husband and children.
