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 since they started school as that's the advice iirc. It's free and easy to book it at boots. You need to have regular chats with the dc too as dd1 sight deteriorated and she had glasses prescribed 4 months after an annual test which was all clear.
You need to monitor headaches too as this is a classic sign they need glasses.

@SavingsQuestions

Kids really dont notice if there is a problem with their eyes as its their normal. They dont tell their parents, just assume it's like that for everyone! They may function well enough. I guess if you have the start of a cavity you might not know so it's important to have your teeth checked.

Similarly opticians check eye health as dentists check for other things.

Also there can be changes in sight which make glasses useful - its not a binary can see/can't see.

Are people more likely to use a dentist than an optician? I'd see them as similar and assumed most people did. There's only a few on here that didn't know and as I said I'm genuinely surprised. Same as I would be if someone hadn't taken their kids to a dentist and "didnt know."

@SavingsQuestions

I have generally been more on top of opticians appointments than dentists as eyes are far less easy to treat and replace!! But I actually think most parents are the reverse.

Annual opticians appointment for the 11 year old - and annual disappointment as vision is still 20:20. (Quite proud I did such a good job selling glasses as a positive thing despite the fact they are an abject pain in the arse and I hate them with a passion)

@Frazzled2207

Kids dentist are only free if you can find an NHS spot. I've always had to go private.

Annually at least - eye health and vision both important. I think they have a test first year of primary school but my children were already being seen before then as I knew there was a family history.

Dentist every six months.

We are very fortunate that we can do this for free at point of use.

I live in a part of Yorkshire that isn't known for its affluence. This means that we still have plenty of NHS dentists. When outrdentist went private several years ago he lost a lot of patients who went elsewhwre for NHS dental treatment.

I have never had my eyes tested and nor have my children other than the school test. I didn’t even know regular eye tests were a thing.

@3WildOnes

I hope you (and others that haven't had their kids eye's tested in a while) manage to book one soon!

Those of you who have never been, do none of you work in an office/on a computer??

By law your employer has to pay for the eye test, If you request one, so why wouldn't you??

Not just computers, the phrasing is, "Display screen equipment" so that includes things like ultrasound, some supermarket checkouts, even some hospital monitors.

Children get a voucher towards the cost of glasses as well - there are loads in the ‘free’ range covered by voucher.

Some offer 2 for 1 - like spec savers as they get damaged easily.

I hope this thread makes some people think about taking their children.

I take my 2 annually for dentist. For opticians for daughter who does wear glasses every year for son who doesn’t it usually every two years unless any problems.

I'm shocked at the wishy washy attitude towards eye health on this thread, it is so important not just ist for vision but other potential conditions too.

Most countries require drivers to have a vision exam every few years. I think it's pretty shocking that it's not a requirement in the UK and I reckon there's more than a few driving without glasses for vanity reasons.

I think this thread is testament to poor health promotion in the uk around sight.

@nevernotstruggling

I think this thread is testament to poor health promotion in the uk around sight.

So depressingly true.

I think there needs to be a concerted campaign to encourage parents to get their children's eyes tested regularly. As both DH and I wear glasses we have always been on top of taking DD to the optician regularly.

I suppose I just continued what my parents did with me. I didn't go for an eye test until I was 12 and when messing around one day, realised that I could see more clearly with my friend's glasses on. My sister and I had regular check ups from then on, so I suppose I did know it was free, but I didn't know it was a thing most people do (is it?)

Whereas we went for dental check ups regularly.

There aren't many routine check ups done in the UK - I remember having one done when we moved doctor's surgery and commenting that it would be a good idea to have them regularly and my mum saying she thought doctors were probably too busy.

I remember having hearing check ups done at school, but no other routine check ups at all aside from the dentist.

I would still be surprised to hear that a lot of people take their children for eyesight check ups as it seems unusual to me.

I took my older 2 when they were 9 and 8, I noticed my eldest was squinting a bit. She now wears glasses.
The youngest I took when he was 5, he was tripping over absolutely nothing (he generally has quite poor coordination but I wanted to get him checked out). No glasses but they like to check him annually because he’s long sighted but think he will grow out of it.
They all go whenever I get a letter from the opticians reminding me!
We have annual dentist appointments.

I don't understand why it is surprising that MN readers in particular don't know either - it's not a particularly MN topic, is it? I've been here for ages and can't remember any particular awareness campaign about eye tests.

I think this thread is testament to poor health promotion in the uk around sight

Why not take responsibility for yourself and your children?

Most people I know would have dental and eye checkups. How would you know if they need glasses otherwise? Or that their teeth are in good order?

There's a few of my daughter's little friends who have needed glasses so they must have discovered this at an eye test... as well as my circle of friends.

I am the otherway and so surprised there's people on this thread who don't get this checked! Especially with the importance for school.

I'd assume there are some parents who don't bother with dentists/opticians or find it overwhelming for other reasons but surely in the minority.

There may need to be more health education outthere. Maybe threads like this on mumsnet or campaigns here. I naiively assumed this wouldn't be the target demographic though...

Bertie was that to me? Because this is a parenting website and self defining as people interested in children's health/education etc. As a group, higher income than average etc too (not in my case admittedly!)

Every 2 years I think is recommended. DS16 had bad eyes and was patched when little so as the other children have come along we wanted them checked too from an early age as patching only works to age 7. Dentist every 6 months but we haven't been in a year as dentist was emergency only. Hoping we can be seen soon

I think it is because it doesn't occur to adults who don't need to wear glasses or contact lenses that their children need eye tests @BluebellsGreenbells. I have awful eyesight, so I know how important it is to look after your eyes.

Given some of the responses on this thread, I really feel that there needs to be an educational campaign to all parents about the importance of eye tests.

I’d say anyone who hasn’t taken kids to optician ever / in last 2 years should book an appointment tomorrow. Check up and glasses free for kids.

Same for anyone who has not gone for check up at dentists in last year. Again it’s free on NHS for kids. I’m a private patient but kids still listed as NHS including for orthodontist.

I'd never taken my DC (5 & 3) don't know why, assumed it was when they were older. They are now booked in next week.

I had a routine eye test this week and have less than 50% of my peripheral vision. I had no idea, I thought I had perfect eye sight and now having fast tracked consultant appointments.

Just goes to show you really don't know...

Well done Tigerbread! Hope the appointment goes well.