checklist

Your child’s sight is very important because it will affect every part of their life as it is now and in the future. As a parent it’s important that you understand exactly what you need to do to ensure good quality vision for your children – especially since much of what children learn is taken in through their eyes. This checklist covers everything you need to know.

When to start testing your child’s eye sight
It’s never too early and eye tests are not related to whether your child can read the alphabet or not. Babies and pre-school children will receive regular vision screening programs as part of routine developmental checks but these are not as thorough as full eye exams by an optician. The earlier eye problems are found, the more likely it is that it can be corrected so take your child for regular eye checks as early as possible and at the very least before they are 3 years old.

NHS vouchers
Don’t worry too much about the cost because the NHS recognises how important children’s eye sight is. The NHS provides free eye exams to all children under 16 or under 19 if they are in full time education. If your child needs glasses you get an NHS voucher to go towards their costs and many glasses for children are completely free.

Signs you need to be aware of
A child won’t know that their sight is any different even if they experience blurred or distorted vision. The following symptoms may indicate that your child is struggling with their eye sight – bring them in to us just to check. The tell tale signs include:

• Rubbing
• Discomfort experienced in bright lights
• Complaints of head aches and eye strain
• Holding books close to the eyes
• Clumsiness
• Colour identification challenges
• Frequent blinking
• Watery eyes
• Squinting and screwing up their eyes

The eye exam
Your child’s eye exam will not be the same as an adult’s. The eye test will be adapted according to your child’s age, development and capability, so don’t think that your child is too young for an eye exam. We can even find their prescription without asking them any difficult questions using a skilled technique called retinoscopy (it’s painless and quick and just involves looking into a bright light). And all our young patients get a free colouring pack to take away! It is very important that child is seen ideally before 3 years of age but definitely before they start school.

Each eye is tested separately and then they are checked again to make sure they work properly together. A retinoscope is used as described above. Special charts are also used to enhance the diagnosis. Shapes and pictures are used if your child is too young to read or understand the alphabet. An ophthalmoscope is then used quickly and painlessly to check the overall health of the eyes.

The results will be discussed with you and if your child does not need glasses then its important to maintain regular eye checks.

Need glasses?
Selecting the right frame and lenses for your child is very important. You need to understand that your child’s features are different to an adult’s and they are also constantly growing – choosing frames that are comfortable and look good is very important.

We’ll be able to help you choose the right fit by checking the following:

• The distance between the pupils
• Apical radius – shape of the top of the nose
• Face height
• Temple width
• Head width
• Distance between rims of glasses
• Pantascopic tilt – face angle
• Length glasses will need to bend
• Downward angle of drop from glasses to ear
• Length of drop from glasses to ear

Our glasses for kids ranges have been specifically designed for growing kids to suit their hectic, rough and tumble lives. Strength and durability is just as important as comfort and style. Plastic lenses for kids are standard since safety is paramount. Plastic lenses are hard wearing, safer and lighter to wear. Children’s glasses can also be coated for extra strength and stop scratching. Glasses are available in shapes, sizes and colours.

Top tips

• Teach your child to take off their glasses with both hands to stop them bending out of shape
• Teach them never put their glasses lens down as they may scratch
• Teach your child to keep their glasses in a case when they are not being worn
• Show them how to clean their glasses daily (using the special cloths provided to keep them clean) helping potentially harmful dirt and grime from accumulating
• Pop in store for free adjustments for growing kids and for mis-shapen or bent glasses!
• For a bit of help, since kids will break more glasses, they can get an “interim” voucher – between eye exams – to repair and/or replace broken glasses