Children's Eye Examinations

We have produced a Photobook of our children Fionn (Age 4) and Niamh (Age 2) having their eyes tested. Parents can take a copy home and read it with their children prior to their eye examination.This helps illustrate to children what they can anticipate, thereby reducing some of the uncertainty associated with attending for an eye exam.

If you would like to take a copy home, please just ask us when you book their appointment.

Why Have an Eye Exam?

Many of us know the importance of regular dentist check-ups but not many parents appreciate the value of regular eye examinations.

The eye is still developing throughout early childhood and therefore if problems are detected and treated early, they have a lasting effect.

Good eyesight is crucial to ensure children develop to their full potential both at school and socially.

How Do I Know if My Child Has an Eye Problem?

The short answer is you may not; some Eye conditions do not display any signs or symptoms and the only way to know for sure is to take your child for an eye examination.

Signs that may indicate a problem with a child’s sight include:

An eye appearing to drift inwards or outwards
Difficulty concentrating
Behavioural problems
Headaches
Sitting too close to the television
Frequent eye rubbing
Some parents have noted that their child does not have the same reaction in a 3D film as they do. (We cannot appreciate 3D vision unless both eyes work together)

Certain conditions can run in families. If there is a family history of squint (turn in the eye), spectacles from a young age or wearing a patch over one or two eyes it would be advisable to have your child’s eyes tested.

When Should a Child Have Their Eyes Examined for the First Time?

Research has shown that approximately 20% of school-aged children have an undiagnosed vision problem.

UK National Screening Committee recommends screening at age four to five years; however, it is never too early for your child to have an eye exam as these recommendations are for asymptomatic children with no known family history of Eye problems.

Many parents are concerned that we will not be able to adequately assess their children until they know their letters, but there are many tests we can do to assess vision and spectacle prescription long before this stage of development.

We are experienced in testing all age groups including infants, school age children and teenagers.

(1) Data from Professor David Thomson, City University, London.

Will I Have to Pay for the Eye Examination?

All children under the age of 16 and under 19 in Full-time education are entitled to a free eye examination under the NHS. If they need spectacles, they will also be given a voucher which in many cases will cover the complete cost of spectacles. Under 16’s are also given replacement/repair vouchers if their spectacles are broken or lost. We offer 2nd pairs of spectacles at a discounted rate and many parents avail of this opportunity to have a spare pair for their children.

The Eye Test - What to Expect

During the Eye Exam we will try to gauge how well your child sees, for some children this is simply asking them to read the letters on the chart, but for smaller children we may have to use other methods to determine how well they see.
We will determine whether they use their eyes together effectively.
In older children we will assess their colour vision and ability to see in 3D.
We will then assess whether they are long-sighted (hypermetropia) or short-sighted (myopic) and determine if they need spectacles. We may need to instil some eye drops to aid in this examination (particularly in younger children.) We will discuss this with you fully at the time. The drops used are called cyclopentolate; they enlarge the pupils and allow us to accurately assess the prescription of all children; even babies. The pupils will stay enlarged for approximately 4 hours after instillation and children may struggle with near work for the same length of time.
We will look into the back of the eye to assess the ocular health. If it is possible, we will also take a retinal photograph to document their eye health; this is very useful for future comparison.
We will discuss our findings with you fully and answer any questions at the end of the examination.

If we detect any underlying conditions which require referral to the Hospital Eye Service, we will explain this to you and ensure you are aware of why we are making the referral.