The Difference Between an Optometrist and a Pediatric or Developmental Optometrist

Author: Hayley Martin

 

When your child leans closer to a book, squints at the board, or rubs tired eyes after homework, your heart wonders: Is she really seeing the world clearly? Most parents know to schedule a yearly eye exam with an optometrist, and that is an important step.

But here’s what many don’t realize: a standard optometrist’s exam often stops at clarity.

For children, that isn’t nearly enough.

Pediatric and developmental optometrists go far beyond a simple glasses prescription.

They test how the eyes move, focus, team, and communicate with the brain. These skills affect reading, writing, attention, sports, and confidence. That’s why every child should see a pediatric or developmental optometrist at least once.

 

Why a Routine Exam Isn’t Enough for Kids

An optometrist (OD) is highly trained to care for eye health and prescribe glasses or contact lenses. They check:

• Visual clarity (can your child see the letters on the chart?)
• Eye health (are the eyes free of disease or injury?)
• Prescription (do they need glasses for nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism?)

This is essential care, but it leaves gaps. A child can have “perfect” 20/20 sight and still:

• Skip lines while reading
• Lose place on the page
• Get headaches after short periods of homework
• Struggle with ball sports
• Avoid books or complain of tired eyes

These problems come from visual skills that aren’t usually measured in a standard exam. That’s where pediatric and developmental optometrists shine.

What Pediatric and Developmental Optometrists Do Differently

A pediatric optometrist specializes in eye care for infants, children, and teens. A developmental optometrist has additional post-doctoral training in how vision develops and how it supports learning and life skills.

Instead of evaluating only, “Can your child see clearly?”, they look deeper to understand:

• Do both eyes work together smoothly (eye teaming)?
• Do the eyes move across a page with accuracy (tracking)?
• Can the eyes shift focus from near to far and back again without strain (focusing flexibility)?
• Is the brain processing what the eyes see quickly and correctly (visual processing)?

These are the skills that allow a child to read fluently, copy from the board, catch a ball, or enjoy a chapter book without fatigue.

In other words:

• A general optometrist measures sight.
• A pediatric or developmental optometrist measures how vision works in real life.

 

Why This Matters for Every Child

Many learning and attention struggles are tied to undetected visual skill problems. Children rarely complain because they assume everyone sees the same way.

• A child who “hates reading” may actually find the words blur or dance.
• A child who “doesn’t pay attention” may be straining just to keep the print from slipping away.
• A child who “isn’t sporty” may simply have trouble judging distance because their eyes don’t team well.

Without developmental testing, these challenges can be misread as laziness, learning disorders, or lack of effort. The truth? Sometimes the eyes just need coaching.

That’s why it’s not enough to only see a general optometrist.

Every child deserves the deeper look that pediatric and developmental optometrists provide.

 

What Kind of Doctor to Look For

It can feel overwhelming to know which specialist to choose. Here’s how to tell if a doctor has additional training in children’s vision or developmental optometry:

• OD – Doctor of Optometry: This is the degree every optometrist earns. It means they are licensed to examine eyes and prescribe glasses or contacts.
• FCOVD: Fellow of the College of Optometrists in Vision Development. Signals deep training in children’s vision, binocular vision, and vision therapy.
• FAAO: Fellowship in the American Academy of Optometry. If their bio notes the Binocular Vision, Perception and Pediatrics section, that supports pediatric and VT expertise.
• Pediatric Optometry Residency: Some optometrists complete a residency focused specifically on pediatric and binocular vision. This may be listed in their biography even if it doesn’t appear after their name.
• COVD: Involved with developmental optometry; however, Fellowship (FCOVD) is the higher standard.

When searching, look for doctors who list “developmental optometrist,” “pediatric optometrist,” “vision therapy,” “FCOVD,” or “binocular vision residency” in their training. OD alone means general care without confirmed developmental training.

 

What to Expect at a Developmental Vision Evaluation

These evaluations are child-friendly, gentle, and far more detailed than a routine exam. They often include:

• Eye movement tests (can the eyes follow smoothly and jump accurately?)
• Teaming tests (do the eyes aim together at the same point?)
• Focus flexibility (how easily do the eyes adjust from near to far?)
• Processing assessments (how well does the brain interpret visual input?)

The results may simply reassure you that everything is on track—or they may uncover areas where your child would benefit from glasses designed for comfort, prism lenses, or a structured vision therapy program.

 

Vision Therapy: A Gentle Way Forward

Vision therapy is like a gym or dance class for the eyes and brain. Through guided exercises, children strengthen the way their eyes and brain work together. Over time, they often:

• Read with more ease
• Spend less time on homework
• Gain confidence in the classroom
• Enjoy sports and play more fully

It’s not about pushing perfection. It’s about removing hidden obstacles so a child can thrive.

A Gentle Guide for Parents

1. Schedule a routine exam with a pediatric or developmental optometrist once a year, even if they already “see well.”
2. Look for the letters FCOVD or residency training in pediatric/binocular vision to ensure advanced expertise.
3. Share results with teachers and tutors to build a supportive circle around your child.
4. Celebrate progress, every small step counts.

 

Final Encouragement

An optometrist makes sure your child can see clearly. A pediatric or developmental optometrist makes sure your child can see comfortably, efficiently, and with joy.

Both are valuable. But for children, whose eyes are still growing and whose learning depends on strong visual skills, the deeper expertise of a pediatric or developmental optometrist is priceless.

Because every child deserves to see not just the letters on a chart, but the stories, the lessons, and the magic waiting in the world around them.