Would you let your six year old have an eye test with a smear person whilst you were in different room also having an eye test?

[Bartenderandthethief]

As the title says, would you?

My opticians don't see under 16 without an adult.

"And while you're at it, just explain the cast-iron link between gender and abuse."
Really?

I'm surprised an optician was happy to do that. Dd is just 16 and the eye clinic expected me to be there when she was 15.

No I wouldn't.

I would want to be there, in case there was any issues.

A 6 year old may not understand what the Optician is asking them to do. It's easier if an adult is there who knows the child.

At our opticians and dentist under 16s have to be accompanied by an adult. Standard safeguarding I would have thought (to protect the child but also the adult from accusation).

I think you need to rewrite your OP and explain what you mean. I don´t understand what potential problem you are trying to point out, and I don´t think I am alone in not understanding.

I wouldn't because DD has a habit of not giving details when asked a question so I would want to keep an eye (no pun intended!) on what she was saying to optician and what optician was saying to her.

I’m expected to be there when my teens are getting a test at Optical Express. The optician asks questions like if there’s a history of eye issues in the family that my kids wouldn’t know how to answer.

And I think any medical professional who does an examinations with a child, without another adult present, is an absolute idiot.

It could be any adult, receptionist, mum, dad, another medical professional, but there should be another adult present.

I wouldn't have an issue with it but I would want to be there to explain our (complicated) family eye history which is relevant because the condition is heredity plus my eldest has a congenital eye issue, and also hear what the optician is saying i.e still needing glasses or not, for what activities to wear them. Helpfully specsavers booked my youngest 3 all in with different opticians at the same time for our recent appointment and looked surprised that I wanted to sit in.

I had to tell my 8 year old to stop being an idiot the whole way through hers so no, I don't think I would send a 6 year old without a parent...

And I can't believe all those saying they don't see a problem.

You must be very naive.

Also when the 6 year old comes out and the Optitian goes onto to their next appointment, how do you find out what has been said/done?

No. Opticians have to get very close to the person being tested, in the dark. I think any child should have a parent as chaperone in that situation.
Still go in with my dds aged 13 and 16, although to be fair they have certain issues due to be adopted.
At six, no way.

not convinced this would be a great eye test.....not fair on the oculist, it's rather treating them like childcare. As a one-off then fine but don't abuse their good nature.

The optician is also leaving themselves in a very risky position!

My childhood dentist used to insist children went in alone. My mum always refused. In hindsight given he was later jailed for child abuse I am pleased she sat in.

I'm an optician and I prefer having the parents in the room when its a smaller child, although with teens I give the option of the parent sitting in the waiting room. Although if I'd asked the parents all the relevant questions and the child was comfortable, I'd also be happy for the parent to leave.
We need parents to sign the NHS form so that we get paid (a pittance) for the test.

No, I think a parent should be present for anything medical so you can ask questions etc.

If the optician is ok with it, I dont see any problem with it. Your only a room away if needed. They are professionals.

I wouldn’t have left my D.C. at 6 yo but mostly because they wouldn’t have liked being left alone for something like that rather than because I see any particular risk.

Certainly at 6 yo they sat with books outside the room while I had my eye tests.

Aren't 15 year olds entitled to see doctors on their own if they wish? Why are opticians and dentists different?

I wouldn’t. Not for any nefarious reasons, I’d just want to make sure the test went okay and be sure I had all the relevant info etc.

I am shocked that some dentists and opticians won't see an under 16 alone.

I would have no problem but I do think eye tests are quite scary for young children because you have to sit in the dark and the optician needs to be very close to the child in order to examine the eyes. I have always found a fairly intimate examination because of this. So no, because of the dark and it can be quite intimidating. If it was a dentist check up - would be different.

Generally I stay with all of my dc for these things. I would prefer they gain confidence with me in younger years so they are completely chilled as they get older and there is less chance of a bad experience of any kind with me there.

Yes no problem to me

No, I wouldn't. But then when DD was about six, the optician turned round mid-test and said 'she's definitely colour blind'. Cue hysterics from DD who obviously picked up on the 'blind' part and not the rest. I'd have felt very sorry for the optician dealing with that on their own.

My children's (female, as it happens) dentist refused to have parents in
as she said it often made the children more nervous. She was right.

Not so sure about optician as I think there can be more interpreting/guiding needed with young children.