Leads every exam. She talks to your child first, then to you, and explains what she found in plain words.
Children's eye care in Papillion, Nebraska
Your child's first eye exam, one small step at a time
Dr. Spruill and a team of four see babies, toddlers and school-age children. A parent stays beside the child for every step, and we explain each one as we go.
A first visit, told in color
Your child's first exam, in five steps
Each step has a job and a few minutes of its own. Nothing is done to your child without you hearing why.
01Call or book online
Tell us your child's age and whether they wear glasses. We will find a time that works around naps and school.
02Say hello first
Your child sits where they like, on a parent's lap or in the big chair. We spend the first few minutes on hellos, not on tests.
03Play the picture games
Shapes, pictures and blinking lights take the place of letters. Most of it feels like a game, and it tells the doctor how each eye sees.
04A look at the health of the eyes
A small light shows the doctor the front and the back of each eye. If drops would help, we tell you why before we use them.
05Talk it over
Dr. Spruill tells you what she found in plain words. If your child needs glasses, you leave with a copy of the prescription and an idea of what comes next.
An age guide
When to bring your child
General guidance from national eye-care groups. Your child's doctor may suggest a different schedule.
6 to 12 months
A first lookA baby's first eye exam.
Ages 3 to 5
Before kindergartenAt least one exam in these years.
Before first grade
Ready to readReading asks a lot of two eyes.
Each year
School age and onOr as your doctor says.
What we help with
Four reasons families come to see us
A first eye exam
For babies, toddlers and preschoolers, with a parent in the room.
How a first exam goesGlasses that fit small faces
Frames sized for children, lenses made for play, and repairs.
Children's glasses
Four people, one small office
Meet the people beside your child
Dr. Spruill's license is listed at the foot of every page, with the board that issues it.
Darwin Alcaraz
Optical assistant
Measures and fits children's frames, adjusts them and repairs them. Runs the try-on days.
Kayla Gould
Exam assistant
Does the first measurements and plays the picture games. Stays beside your child through the exam.
Emma Burgess
Patient coordinator
Books visits, checks vision and medical benefits before you come, and answers the phone.
Paying for a visit
Who pays for what
Most families use a vision plan for the exam, medical insurance for an eye problem, or both on one visit.
A vision plan
Pays for a routine exam and, often, part of glasses.
Medical insurance
Pays when the doctor looks into an eye problem or follows one up.
You
Pay for anything a plan does not, and we say what that is before you decide.
Questions parents ask first
When should my child have a first eye exam?
Many eye doctors suggest a first exam between six and twelve months, and at least one more between ages three and five. If your pediatrician or you have a concern, come sooner. Dr. Spruill can tell you what schedule suits your child.
How do you test a child who can't read letters?
We use pictures, shapes and lights, and we turn each test into a game. Your child never has to say a word the doctor can read from their eyes instead. You stay beside them the whole time.
Will my child need eye drops?
Sometimes. Drops that relax the eye's focusing help the doctor measure a child's prescription. They sting for a moment, and they can make close-up vision blurry and bright light uncomfortable for a few hours. We tell you before we use them, and why.
Do you work with my vision plan?
We work with many vision plans. Call to confirm yours. Our patient coordinator checks your benefits before the visit where she can.
What if it is an emergency?
Call us now, or go to the nearest emergency room, for sudden vision loss, a curtain over the vision, a sudden shower of floaters, an eye injury or a chemical splash. In a life-threatening emergency, call 911.
Ready when you are
Book your child's first exam
Choose a time in our booking system. Prefer to talk first? Call and we will find one with you.
Phone(402) 555-0108
Hours
- Monday – ThursdayToday
- 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
- FridayToday
- 8 a.m. – 1 p.m.
- Saturday and SundayToday
- Closed