Eye test for 3 year old

[Mamanchen]

I'm shortsighted. My parents and brothers are too. I got glasses when I was 9 or 10, but had been struggling with reading the board for as long as I could remember.

DD has just turned 3. We're staying with my parents at the minute, who have a TV. DD always stands close to it to watch, even after we remind her to sit on the sofa. I don't know if it's because she can't see it properly, or just because she's used to watching TV shows on my tablet which is much closer.

She also seems to struggle with catching balls more than other children, but then she hasn't had much practice during lockdown as we don't have a garden.

Is it too early to get her an eye test? Can I just book one at Specsavers or do I need to speak to the GP or someone?

My child has sight challenges. Took her for her first eye test at 18 months.

Mine had an eyesight at under a year old. They can test their focus at a early age with different lenses and see how the light retracts etc. 3 years old isn't that young. All the children in our schools pre-school have their eyes tested by the school nurse and some of those children won't have turned 4 yet.

One of mine had them tested age 4 at specsavers. They used drops to open his pupils I think. Give them a ring.

took my daughter to vision express when she was 3 (22yrs ago). Her eyesight was so poor they referred her to an NHS clinic where she was seen regularly for the next 10 years.
Definitely not too early to take your child. I didn’t even realise her eyesight was so poor

They will see them at specsavers. They like them to be a bit older but as eye problems run in my family and I could see a turn in my daughters eye they did she her. It did take 2 times and a different optometrist to finally refer her to the hospital though. They are seen in hospital until they are around 8 years old if all is going well.

If you talk to your gp they can refer your child for an eye test at a hospital. We're going through this right now , ds has a squint and may also need glasses. He is two.

I have recently had my DS eyes tested at spec savers (3 years 7 months at time of test) they were really good with him and very reassuring for me as I have worn glasses from a young age. The optician who tested DS eyes actually suggests children have their first eye test around this age as a lot of the issues they pick up early can be corrected if they find them early enough.

It's not too early. I come from a similar family so had my kids tested from age 3.

You could also ask the local health visitor? Our HV picked up a possible issue with our DD when she was two and referred us to an eye hospital for tests...it turned out to be ok although we had to go back every six months for a couple of years to redo tests just because they couldn’t officially discharge her until she could answer all their questions (e.g read letters for them).

Hello,
I'm an optician so thought I'd come and offer my advice.
Any opticians can see children of any age. It's a question of if they feel comfortable that's all. Sometimes our testing equipment isn't the best for small children. If your child is number or shape confident then a standard opticians is absolutely fine. If they aren't then I would go via your GP and they will refer your child to a hospital in which runs a paediatric clinic so appropriate equipment.

If you have a smart phone you may be able to download an app called Zookeeper Zoe. This is by boots opticians. It is a book which has a few tests within it for you to screen your child and will help you notice any changes or any difficulties. This is not a sight test. It's more for you to see if there is anything to worry about.

Book your sight tests. To be honest even if your child doesn't cooperate (it happens!!) at least they'll get used to the environment for next time.

They may sometimes use drops to get a finite answer. As a previous poster said. This basically means the child no longer has to say 1 or 2 etc we can find their prescription through shining light into their eyes instead.

Hope it helps, any questions please ask. X

My dc were tested from 18 months as their dad has a lazy eye (luckily none of them seem to have inherited it)

My sons health visitor referred him to an eye clinic for a suspected turn in his eye. Turned out he doesnt have a turn but they did test his eye sight and said he would requite glasses within the next year or so as he is getting close to being short sighted. He is 3 now.

They put drops in his eye and measured the length of something in his eye.

I

We took our DD to visionexpress when she was 3 and we were referred to the eye hospital. If there are any sight problems, the earlier the better. Get it booked in

Ds was almost three when he had his first eye test (local optician who was great)and it showed that he had a really lazy eye and needed a referal to the hospital and glasses. I felt awful for not taking him earlier as it was absolutely obvious when they put an eye patch on him that he could hardly see at all in one eye.

I am very short sighted as is my mum so I was worried DD would be too. At her last HV check I mentioned it and she was referred to see an orthoptist (aged 2). She tested her vision with pictures rather than letters and did some other tests but they made it fun. I would start with a call to your HV

Thank you for all your suggestions. I'll give Specsavers a ring and see what they say.

We moved to the opposite end of the country when DD was 1 and haven't had contact with a health visitor since then, so I don't know how I would go about contacting one.

@polkadotx do you not have crowded Kay’s?

OP - we usually use picture testing at age 3, so they just need to be able to recognise pictures such as duck, house etc. If they’re almost 4, we can also use a letter matching card. Most computerised test charts have these as standard.

But yes, the sooner the better for picking up eye conditions.