Home Facts & Recommendations Every year, thousands of children in the United States go blind needlessly, simply because they have not received an eye exam Children in underserved families are at the greatest risk of undetected vision problems. 80% of a child’s development relies on vision. Uncorrected vision can result in developmental delays that affect the child’s ability to learn and succeed in academics, sports, and other activities. Studies have found that uncorrected vision can contribute to anxiety and depression as a result of not being able to fully engage in the world around them. Permanent vision loss can be a result of vision problems that go uncorrected during childhood. According to the American Optometric Association, children generally should have their first eye exam at 6 months of age, at the age of 3, at the start of school and then every two years until age 18.