Visiting an Eye Doctor
I don’t have vision insurance for my child. What should I do?
Under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), all medical insurance plans are required to cover pediatric vision care. Missouri Medicaid also covers an exam/glasses (if needed). Call the number on the back of your insurance card for more information and to get a list of providers in your network.
My child is an infant/toddler. Can I take them to any eye doctor or should we see a specialist?
Some offices are not able to see young children. Please refer to the list of “kid-friendly” eye doctors in the referral packet or look for InfantSEE and See To Learn providers on our online search tool.
We do not have insurance and cannot afford an exam/glasses. What should we do?
We might be able to help you connect with other avenues of assistance. Please call us at 855-454-3744
KidSight Referrals
My child hasn’t complained about not being able to see. Should I still schedule an appointment to see an eye doctor?
Yes. Children may not realize that their vision is blurry because it is normal to them! An eye doctor will help you determine if your child has a vision problem and if he/she needs treatment.
What is astigmatism?
Astigmatism is when the cornea of the eye is misshapen, causing blurred vison. Think of it as the eye being shaped like a football when it is supposed to be shaped like a basketball.
What is anisometropia?
Anisometropia is a condition where one eye is stronger than the other. Your child’s vision is still developing and the brain could start to favor one eye if it notices that one sees better than the other. If left untreated, it can develop into amblyopia (“lazy eye”) and lead to permanent vision loss in the weak eye.
My child already sees an eye doctor on a regular basis. What should I do with this referral?
Please let us know that your child is already under the care of an eye doctor so that we can close out our referral file.
KidSight Screenings
My child is an infant/toddler and cannot read an eye chart. How did they do a vision screening?
KidSight uses a portable, automated vision screener that can detect common causes of childhood vision problems. The device takes a photo of the child’s eyes from three feet away and a KidSight screening technician is immediately given a “pass” or “refer” result. The child does not have to say anything and the screening only takes a few seconds.