A pediatric optometrist is an eye doctor (a Doctor of Optometry, abbreviated “OD”) who specializes in children’s eye health. They have additional training, education and experience working with children, performing kid-friendly eye exams and testing, and recognizing and treating child-specific eye conditions.

Like a general optometrist, pediatric ODs perform comprehensive eye exams, prescribe corrective lenses (eyeglasses and contacts), and diagnose and treat eye problems and vision conditions.

A child may be referred to a pediatric optometrist when a pediatrician or general optometrist feels specialized optometric care is needed — often because there may be an eye teaming problem or other issue that cannot be corrected with eyeglasses or contact lenses alone.