To think this optician is a bit over the top?

[Babypassport]

Eye test this morning for my 11 month old. She's normally an extremely placid baby.

For the test, the doctor got the receptionist to hold her head against the metal frame, and I held her body. She started getting upset so the receptionist held her harder, really ramming her head against the metal, and told me to do the same.

By now, baby was wailing like I've never heard before, and the optician started shouting at her, she said to shock her into stopping crying. I looked a bit shocked as well I think, and the optician said, oh look now Mummy's upset too, maybe we should give her a sweetie.

Afterwards she told me that all baby eye tests are like that. AIBU to think that there are gentler ways to do it? I honestly have no idea, having never been to a baby eye test before - maybe it really is the only way.

Also if it's an independent, don't complain to the shop as the optom might own it. Email the G.O.C
www.optical.org

I'm not sure if she's specifically a paediatric optician, but she saw other children in the time we were waiting, and she was recommended by my paediatrician. It's quite a shock as my paediatrician is really wonderful with the baby.

Thanks Feckin. She works independently so I'd have to report her to an overarching body I think.

Yes, please do contact the G.O.C and include the picture as well. Very bad practice.

Do you really think I ought? I have form for overreacting and I'm never quite sure if I'm reacting appropriately

Next time you see your paediatrician, show them the photos of your baby's face, and ask them not to refer to that optician again.

Absolutely you should. As a parent if we marked our child in that way questions would be asked and it is no different for a professional, no one should mark a baby in that way especially for a test that could be repeated at a later date once the baby was more settled.

That does not sound normal at all - why on earth were they trying to use a machine like that on a small baby? I had an appointment for my DD when she was just over one, at the local hospital. No machines, lots of pictures for her to look at, pulling faces and fun from the optician to see how she reacted. She has a look in her eyes with one of those handheld light things, but nothing like what you describe!!

I don't think there's any need to shout at children in that sort of setting. I had lots of hearing tests (I know it's different) at GOSH and they had lots of techniques for communicating with very young children and babies.

Last time when we went for the initial check up they were some picture cards and toys, but this time straight into the frame.

She's starting to get two quite impressive bruises on the side of her head.

Poor thing. Please make a cimplaunt as that isnt normal.

Make sure you take lots of pictures OP! Definitely complain. If it was an older child or say an adult with SN forceful restraint would be out of the question. I don't see why it should be different for a baby.

I've just called the national body of opticians (I live in France so it's a different body) and explained what happened. They told me that the baby has to remain still and if that means forcing them and injuring them then so be it.

I'll still show the photos to my paediatrician in the hope that she'll stop referring to this particular optician!

I'm absolutely gobsmacked at their response, just awful.

What an attitude. I don't believe it, frankly.
Take it further.

OP - yes they have used a slit lamp or an imaging device such as a retinal camera and as I said it won't focus (and therefore you can't see the eye properly) if the person's head isn't resting against the bar.

The PP who said she worked in an opticians is incorrect with her information. It is possible to use an ophthalmoscope to see the back of the eye (not to find out if they need glasses though, that's a retinoscope), but you don't get a 3D image. So it can be useful as a first line tool, but won't give all the information.

I suspect that the optician shone a light in his eye first and then had a look with the slit lamp.

Was everything okay with your LO in the end?

You are in France you should have said that 1st . As everyone here is reacting as if you where in UK.

What was child being tested for ?

If that is how they do in France that is how they do .

She's absolutely fine, eye-wise. Nothing sinister in the back of her eyes. She might need to be fitted with glasses due to an intermittent squint but we'll know that tomorrow after a second test (with a different optician, thankfully!)

Unfortunately the response I got from the professional body doesn't shock me in the slightest. The standards of care and living are extremely high here but there's also a quite entrenched mentality by the majority (in my experience) that if they don't like how something happens they just have to grin and bear it. As an example, when setting up my electricity account I was told by the operative that I stunk of shit. When I complained to the manager they just said okay and didn't even apologise. My friends here weren't particularly surprised !!

Anyway I'm going off topic. I'very arranged for the paediatrician to call me as I trust her opinion and hopefully she can do something constructive!

Complain. My DD has an eye condition and was a regular at the eye hospital from about six months maybe younger. Not one of her appointments was anything less than friendly and professional with lovely staff. Your experience is not normal.

I'm an optical advisor and I'm horrified by what you've described. I'd be looking to take it further, she's bruised your baby.

Jesus Christ OP! If your baby is bruised I'd be calling the police about assault.

That's horrendous. My second DD was prem she had to have an eye test where her eyes were clamped open, it was no where near as bad as what your poor DD has been through.

I'm so sorry no your not overreacting

We have endured many eye tests from 3 months up. I've had to hold ds to get eye drops in to dilate pupils. It's horrible but over quickly. Did they do that? I have no idea how you could look in a child's eye without doing that?! I held ds on my knee when he was smal and occasionally would get caught with the lamp. It was horrible.

For eye imagine they had a strap to hold his head in place, and yes he freaked but again he was on my knees and I was able to keep sliding in chocolates.

What are the option in France for shopping around?

She's been on eye drops to dilate her eyes for the four days before the appointment. A drop in each eye then press a finger against the inside corner to stop it entering her system. She wasn't pleased about it but aside from a bit of whining and head shaking she's been very good.

I spoke to my paediatrician and she was horrified. I'm also the second person to have complained to her about this optician. So she's going to get on the case and see what can be done to stop it from happening again.

Thanks so much everyone for your support - it gave me the confidence to speak up about my baby's treatment.