We Focus on Your Whole Family
Your children’s eye health matters to us. From infants to young adults, vision care is paramount.
Important life skills have a basis in visual skills. Things like recognizing the difference between letters, picturing a story as it’s told out loud, and remembering the details of what they read in a book are all part of your child’s visual perceptual skills.
Like any skill, visual skills are learned and practiced. If there are barriers to acquiring them, there can be barriers to learning. Visual abilities begin in infancy, and kids’ eyes develop and change frequently throughout their school years.
Regular eye exams are essential at every age and stage of their development. So please book their appointment today.
How Do I Know My Child Needs Glasses?
Kids often have no way of knowing their vision isn’t normal, and they might not be able to express to you when something is wrong. But, there are telltale signs that your child may need an eye exam:
- Squinting
- Holding items close to the face
- Excessive eye rubbing
- Tilting the head
- Covering one eye
- Headaches
- Eye pain
- Trouble concentrating
Some of these signs indicate a refractive error, but they can also be symptoms of other vision issues, like strabismus or amblyopia.
If your child does need glasses, Family Focus Eyecare carries a diverse array of eyewear your kid will love.
Vision Screening vs. Eye Exam
The clear choice between an eye exam and a vision screening is always an eye exam. Vision screenings are sometimes provided at school and are used to test for visual acuity.
But these simple vision screenings miss up to 75% of kids with vision problems. And, almost 40% of kids who fail the vision screening don’t receive any follow-up care.
A comprehensive eye exam gives the optometrist the opportunity to assess overall ocular health, provide education, and recommend a treatment plan. We have the equipment, skills, and time to help your child see clearly.
A simple screening won’t assess prenatal and postnatal health, cover head or ocular trauma, or gather information about your family’s health history—all things that help provide optimum ocular care for your child.
When Should My Child Have an Eye Exam?
The American Optometric Association recommends the following frequency for comprehensive eye exams:
- One baseline exam between the ages of 6 and 12 months
- One comprehensive exam between the ages of 3 and 5
- Annual, comprehensive exams starting before 1st grade
Proper vision helps children understand and respond to visual cues. It’s essential for learning and development, and it’s about more than just being able to see the board.
School-age kids need visual skills like tracking, focusing, and coordination. Tracking helps move the eyes along a printed page or follow a ball. Focusing lets kids move back and forth between different distances, from looking at the teacher to the page and back again. And coordination is the part that helps write, draw, and play sports.
Set Them up for Success
Family eye care is our passion, and we believe that eye care sets children up for success. We participate in the InfantSEE program, which offers free eye exams for infants aged 6 to 12 months. We also take part in the SEEtoLearn program, which offers free eye exams for 3-year-olds.
Setting kids up for success begins with an eye exam. Please book a pediatric eye appointment with Family Focus Eye Care today.
Visit One of Our Locations
Columbia
We are in Westbury-1.5 miles further west from our old W. Broadway location, near Toasty Goat and the new Club Carwash
- 725 S. Scott Blvd Suite 101
- Columbia, MO 65203
Our Hours
- Monday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Tuesday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Wednesday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Thursday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Friday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Saturday: By Appointment
- Sunday: By Appointment
Eldon
Our Eldon location is on Oak Street, two blocks north of the post office and between North and High Street.
- 115 N Oak St
- Eldon, MO 65026
Our Hours
- Monday: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM
- Tuesday: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM
- Wednesday: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM
- Thursday: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM
- Friday: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM
- Saturday: By Appointment
- Sunday: By Appointment
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Our Testimonials
Dr. Rich is extremely helpful and thoughtful. He cleared up my eye issues within one appointment and even allowed for texts to assess after the appointment. I had been going to a specialist in Columbia for a year and they didn’t even compare to how great Family Focus Eyecare was!
Erin Scrivner
Dr. Barrett is knowledgeable, friendly and practical, I have gone to her for years and trust her. The office staff is great, they are willing to help and make appointments when you need care quickly.
Pamela Didur
The Family Focus Eyecare team is amazing! They really make you feel like home the second you walk through the door. My husband and I both have been very pleased and highly recommend them to anyone in the Columbia area!
Katie Beasley
Twice now, the staff at FFEC have gone above and beyond to help me see clearly. One time I had a contact lens come out while I was driving. It gave me a migrane, and I drove around in desperation trying to find an eye exam since my prescription was expired…. After being turned away in an EMPTY waiting room at the WalMart vision center, and not even being offered a sample pair till an an appointment could be set… I called FFEC and they not only had me come right over, they squeezed me in between two clients, gave me replacement contacts, and informed me my insurance would cover everything because they looked up my plan details for me!! (I didnt even know I had vision coverage). What an exceptional team and business!!!! I was so thankful. This might be the first review I have ever taken the time to write.
Dorian Brownlee
I had a great experience!! Very knowledgeable staff and excited about the new contact lens options! Highly recommend!
Rhonda Bledsoe
Dr. Rich was so great with our 3 year old son! He was patient and sweet. This was during COVID and they were very careful with masks and cleaning. I plan to go back myself and so does my husband.
Amanda Fisher
I had an acute eye problem and FFE was able to get me in within a few days where other places were months out. They diagnosed the problem quickly and I was on my way feeling relieved that I would soon be headache free.
Kasie Sly
The entire team was friendly, efficient and helpful throughout my entire experience. Best customer service experience I’ve had with an eye doctor in Columbia. I would highly recommend them to anyone.
Sarah Carnes
Best of the best! Very quick and courteous. No wasted time and the prices seem very fair for the services rendered. One of my biggest concerns was picking frames and they made it painless. Very pleased, I recommend them without hesitation!
Steve Baumann
Dr. Rich is by far the best eye doctor I have ever met! They went above and beyond to help me find the right pair of frames for me. I get compliments every time I wear them. No matter where I live I will always see Dr Rich for my eye care. I moved to STL and I still make the 2 hour drive to meet with him – totally worth it.
Walter Juarez
Dr. Rich is fantastic! My last eye exam has been years ago and this is my first visit at Family Focus Eyecare. I was immediately impressed with the attentive staff as you walk in, not only were the friendly but also extremely efficient getting me started and keeping me on time. The lobby area is pleasant and has a nice new feel to it. Because this was my first visit I had to go through the typical tests for them to examine my eyes and their technology & equipment are top-notch, it was so easy. Once I met with Dr. Rich he explained everything clearly and especially took the time to ask me many questions about my eyes, habits, difficulties and things I felt needed his attention. After consulting with him thoroughly and running numerous tests I was given a LOWER prescription! He was able to determine my contacts were too strong and what was causing my vision to not be perfect. Everything about my experience was perfect and I highly recommend Dr. Rich and Family Focus Eyecare!
John Sorensen
The staff is so friendly, helpful and very accommodating for kids. My girls are sad that they only get to go once a year.
Joy Lowe
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Our Blog
Can Dry Eye Cause Blindness?
Dry Eye DiseaseIf you’ve experienced burning, gritty, or scratchy eyes, you may have dry eye disease. This is a common—and treatable—eye condition that can lead to blurry vision, discomfort, and redness in the eyes. But can it cause blindness? In extreme cases, dry eye disease can lead to long-term vision problems if left untreated. This condition is […]
Question & Answer with Dr. Rich
AmblyopiaCommon conditionsEye careEye DiseaseEye ExamEye StrainMyopiaAs children grow, their eyes change quickly. Careful attention to a child’s eye health can help catch problems early, while their eyes are still developing. […]
5 Early Signs of Glaucoma
Common conditionsEye careGlaucoma is the “silent thief of sight” because it can develop with minimal symptoms until vision loss occurs. While glaucoma can be dangerous, an early diagnosis can help protect your vision. Your optometrist can identify early signs of glaucoma when they examine your eyes, but can you identify any warning signs of glaucoma yourself? Continue […]
Can Dry Eye Cause Blindness?
If you’ve experienced burning, gritty, or scratchy eyes, you may have dry eye disease. This is a common—and treatable—eye condition that can lead to blurry vision, discomfort, and redness in the eyes. But can it cause blindness? In extreme cases, dry eye disease can lead to long-term vision problems if left untreated. This condition is […]
Question & Answer with Dr. Rich
As children grow, their eyes change quickly. Careful attention to a child’s eye health can help catch problems early, while their eyes are still developing. […]
5 Early Signs of Glaucoma
Glaucoma is the “silent thief of sight” because it can develop with minimal symptoms until vision loss occurs. While glaucoma can be dangerous, an early diagnosis can help protect your vision. Your optometrist can identify early signs of glaucoma when they examine your eyes, but can you identify any warning signs of glaucoma yourself? Continue […]
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Columbia
- 725 S. Scott Blvd Suite 101
- Columbia, MO 65203
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P: 573-446-1600
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Eldon
- 115 N Oak St
- Eldon, MO 65026
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P: 573-392-7126