Child Eye Examination Training Deemed Essential in Era of Digital Screen Exposure

The demand for paediatric eye health services is reportedly increasing alongside the rise in digital screen exposure from an early age. This trend means that approaches to child eye examinations can no longer be treated the same as those for adults.

This issue was a primary focus of a paediatric vision care training session attended by dozens of optometrists from various regions across Indonesia in May 2026. The training featured Dr Scarlett Cacayuran Salva, a paediatric optometry practitioner from the Philippines, who provided specialised instruction regarding visual examinations for children.

Doli Rosmiaty, Operational Director of Optik Tunggal, stated that eye examinations for children require a more adaptive approach, both in terms of communication and examination methods. “Children have different visual examination needs compared to adults, so the approach used must be more specific,” Doli said in a statement on Sunday (18/5/2026).

According to her, an optometrist’s ability to build rapport and comfort with a child is a crucial factor in the examination process. Consequently, the training focuses not only on technical aspects but also on psychological approaches during the examination.

During the training, participants received material ranging from paediatric handling and communicating with children to observing visual development amidst changing digital activity patterns. Additionally, a child-friendly approach was a key component of the learning process.

Dr Scarlett Cacayuran Salva explained that a comfortable examination experience can help improve the accuracy of vision evaluations in children. “Children have different responses when undergoing eye examinations. Therefore, optometrists require patience, observational skills, and communication approaches that can make children feel safe and engaged during the process,” she said.

Strengthening the competence of optometrists is considered a vital part of meeting the evolving needs of vision care services. Beyond the examination itself, an empathetic approach towards children is becoming a central focus in modern eye health services.

The training was attended by approximately 40 optometrists from various Optik Tunggal outlets across Indonesia and serves as part of the development of more family-friendly paediatric eye examination services.