How often do you take DC for eye test?

[WaterBottle123]

Took DD1 today, she's 10 and we hadn't been since 2018, got slightly told off by optician, even though DD1 has perfect sight.

Bumped into friend afterwards who said none of her DC had ever been.

Curious what's normal? And if you don't visit the optician do you also not visit dentist?

Every year. Always.

"It's amazing how many people think they can see fine so don't have an eye test. You don't know anything about what you should be seeing because you can't comapre and also many eye diseases are silent!"

Absolute eye opener this thread. Honestly 😯

Definitely an interest range of responses

Why do people not take their kids to the opticians?

Dd1 and dd2 are typically every year at the opticians, though dd1s distance has dropped a bit over lockdown apparently so she's now 6 monthly, she also goes to the eye clinic yearly as she has funky eyeballs, I think it's called myelinated nerve sheaths?!

Ds and dd3 have been under orthoptics since they were 3/4, now 6, they go to the opticians every 6 months typically. This month though dd3 has been to orthoptics the first week, opticians the next week, opticians again on Monday and eye clinic next month. All on a Monday so constantly missing school time. And of course they can't get a clear reading on them because they can't see feck all due to the glasses fogging up.them

I go to the opticians yearly, don't think dh has ever been. We all go to the dentist every 6 months, not been since Aug 19. Though I hadn't been at all in the years 2003-15 so I absolutely will put my everything into my kids teeth.

@Hobnobswantshernameback

I met someone this week who was registered as sight impaired with a condition that had silently stolen their peripheral vision They were utterly unaware of the gradual deterioration in their vision as it has been so subtle It was due to glaucoma A perfectly treatable condition if diagnosed and treated in a timely fashion They were heartbroken as their sight is now gone And could have been saved My friends son went for a routine eye test They found worrying symptoms that pointed to raised intracranial pressures He had a brain tumour He had no symptoms Why wouldn't you get your eyes checked regularly

This.

I work in a neuro hospital. Opticians are probably the first line of defence in spotting otherwise ‘symptomless’ neurological problems. Either encroaching visual field loss which the brain gradually adapts to (but will get picked up by an eye test) or an examination of the eye showing papilloedema (pressure behind the eye from raised intracranial pressure - could be a brain fluid circulation issue, could be because of a tumour...)

It’s not just checking if you need glasses!

Why do people not take their kids to the opticians?

I genuinely don't get it! It's free & takes about half an hour. DD had no idea she needed glasses until her first eye test so it's crap that 'kids will say if there's an issue'

@ElphabaTheGreen
Well said
The ignorance about what eye health checks are about is scary

DS is booked in for his first routine appointment next month he's 6
I was under the impression they only needed testing if there was a problem until I read another Mumsnet thread about children and eye tests
And immediately booked him in

Errr if you are 40 and have never been to the optician how do you actually know there isn't a problem??? You know opticians look at more than just whether you have 20/20 vision? Adults should be every two years and kids with no issues the same. DD goes once a year due to lazy eye, which I actually spotted took her to optician and they said all well and 6 mths later school picked up an issue - was v annoyed

DD is on 6 monthly recall but she is short sighted.
Once, they said her sight change was minimal come back in a year.
Her prescription changed dramatically, it took her a week to adjust to new glasses and she suffered terrible nausea. I now refuse annual! Sometimes it's 4 months. Depends as she gets headaches when her glasses aren't right anymore. -6

DS hasn't been for 2 years. I ask him if he can read a sign in the distance (which I can't unless I pop my glasses on) and he can.

Dentist was 6 months until they threw out all the kids unless you chose private.

Never unless we think there's a problem.

Mine have been going every year since Reception. They started needing glasses in secondary school.

@NoGoodPunsLeft

Why do people not take their kids to the opticians?

I genuinely don't get it! It's free & takes about half an hour. DD had no idea she needed glasses until her first eye test so it's crap that 'kids will say if there's an issue'

@NoGoodPunsLeft

Yes, it is considerably less hassle then finding an NHS dentist for example. Literally any optician will see them for free.

Please take your kids for regular eye tests.
My son was diagnosed with chronic uveitis age 11. Now on chemo injections every week to control it. It can damage their eye sight without them being aware of it.

@Hobnobswantshernameback

And the ignorance about glasses and eye health is depressing but unsurprising

Totally agree

Dentist 6 monthly (though they’ve refused to see them now for over a year).
Mine have never been to an optician and it would not occur to me to take them unless they reported issues. I got glasses at 15 and when I went to the optician that time it was the first time I’d ever been (I’d been complaining about not being able to read the blackboard at school).

Ok well having read this thread I need my eyes tested again and I think I’ll take the kids this time

Eldest DC was every six months from ages 1-6 and then annually. DC 2 every 12 months from age 2.

My children only saw optician when they were squinting or getting headaches...never occurred to me to make appointment otherwise.

I take ds1 and dd yearly. Ds1 has perfect vision and dd had a very small prescription for a while but at her last test that had corrected itself and she doesn't need the glasses anymore.

Ds2 goes every 6 months and needs his prescription updated every time. Long sighted and astigmatism.

I had NO IDEA ds2 had a problem with his vision until his standard eye test in Reception class. So i wouldn't wait until the child says they have a problem seeing. Ds2 says he can see fine but he clearly can't. If he tries to read with no glasses on I can see him struggling.

Mine goes every 6-12 months, as directed by the optician, but has been wearing glasses since a year old.

I really hope that anyone reading this who has children who haven't been for an eye test books one (still open through covid and specsavers handled it all very safely- like a clinic.)

Or if your child hasn't had one apart from the infant school "screening."

I'd take a child before they start school and then regulalry- but if people wont do that can they at least do every couple of years?

I don't understand the "well my children never complained " line. For one they wouldnt know about eye health and for two most children don't complain. It's their "normal".

And adults who are 40 and dont go to have eyetests every few years... should start!

Annually since they turned 2.
Dentist every 6 months normally, but as ours is only seeing private patients it has been over a year