To want my daughters eyes tested before she starts school?

[CheeseAndBeans]

DD2 is 4 and is due to start reception in Sept. as per guidelines I tried to book her an eye test over the next few weeks in preparation. We are a family of glassses wearers so thought it best. I did the same with DD1, now 6, and all was good. She had a test at a high street chain and they used pictures etc rather than letters at that age.
I called last week to book and now issue with 6 year old but was refused 4 year old as she couldn't yet read. I asked what has changed as wasn't an issue a couple of years ago and was shut down.
I emailed and asked for their policy on testing kids eyes and was directed back to the store and they said the same thing. Just seems strange to me as NHS guidelines and their own website say to get kids eyes tested prior to starting school, and coupled with the fact my eldest had hers done I'm confused!
Does anyone work at an opticians and is able to enlighten me? Or recommend a chain that does it? We don't have any other opticians in our town so will travel if needed. I guess it's not the be all and end all but I wanted her tested. Thanks!

You should get a child's eyes tested way earlier than four years old...

All you can do now is ring all opticians in your area and try to get an appointment. If there isn't one, you'll just have to wait until they are open more normally.

Our son was diagnosed with terrible eye sight at the end of his reception year. He had had several eye tests prior to that, but they hadn’t been complete enough to pick up his particular problem.

As a PP has suggested, ring round the other opticians and ask them too. I do think it’s a good idea, especially if vision problems run in the family.

They have a school eye test in the first year. Most high st stores will not do kids as its specialists especially with the no reading business. If you suspect an issue then gt referral to NHS services via GP or ring round a few opticians in bigger places where some expertise may be possible.

I took my daughter 3.5 yrs as she was a young starter, they found no issue but I had my suspicions, wham as soon as eye test in school referral and lazy eye - which is what I had suspected. That doesn't develop in 6 months so test was a waste of time to be honest.

I just found it really strange as they were able to do it for DD2 a few years ago. Called around a couple of others not far away and am being told the same thing. Guess IABU!
Booked one for eldest and I'll have to wait until youngest has hers in school at some point.

They have a school eye test in the first year.

Not sure where you live but I've taught reception for years and they hva never had an eye test at any of the schools I've worked in.

I would absolutely ring around more opticians until you find one who will test. It's perfectly notmal to get their eyes tested at this age so I've no idea where their reading policy comes from.

They will be able to do children’s tests they just won’t want to at the moment as they will still be restricted on how many tests they can do a day due to COVID and they won’t make as much money on kids. Sad but true. I would ring round some others.

I doubt there are school eye tests any more.

Any mass eye tests will not spot many eye problems.

Eye tests can and should be done from an early age High street opticians do them.

My daughter got glasses at 3. But she had a very distinctive squint. Her sight isn't good. But isn't terrible at all.

However. We had to do ours through the hospital. As like you. We're we old because she couldn't read. She couldn't have a sight test at the opticians.

The referral took a good year too. Was rubbish.

My DS was referred to a specialist by his gp at age 3 and was prescribed glasses. They had special tests. I don't think an optician could have done the tests.

I would contact an independent optician, or get a referral from gp to an eye clinic. It may be due to reduced services as a result of Covid

My eldest had a test at school in the first year so hopefully they still do them.
Spoken to 4 different opticians and they have all said the same thing. No mention of Covid and are happy to test 6 year old.
Each of their websites suggest getting eyes tested before school starts. She can recognize numbers and a few letters, but I wouldn't trust her to just guess!

You need a independent optician, children under school age can have an eye test. The big chains are only interested in making quick money. Contact your local independent ASAP. Where I work we actively encourage pre school eyetests, and if you are a family of six wearers then we would have suggested to you that your child be tested as a matter of course.

My DD is under the hospital for her eyes due concerns over a possible squint and over straining her eyes. Due to covid she has not been checked before starting school (went back last week - p1), opticians wont see her until discharged from hospital and would only see her in an emergency anyway as opticians in Scotland not doing routine yet. I am worried about it but what can I do? It is ridiculous though, my area has had no new cases for weeks now and not one person in the hospital with it

My youngest is on the ASD diagnosis pathway. One of the first things they advised to do at the start of our journey was to get his eyes tested and he was only 2 1/2 then. We went to an independent local optometrist, and he used pictures too but also said he can tell just by looking into his eyes if there is an issue and they use the full test to pin point prescription. As far as he could tell, as my son wasn’t overly responsive to the prompts, he was ok. He is almost 5 now and usually my local authority do an eye test in reception. They have down for my other two so I expect the same, but will take him back to the optometrist if not.

I would look to see if there are any independent opticians.

Opticians in Scotland have started doing routine appointments as I took my mum to one last week, dh had one and I've been messaged for dd to make an appointment.

They have a school eye test in the first year if the Local Authority commissions the School Nursing Service to do this in your area.

Our school nurses used to check Reception children's eyesight, hearing and do a visual check of teeth. Then came the cuts...

call other opticians.
the school test is very very basic, I would want a thorough test.

You should get a child's eyes tested way earlier than four years old...

Erm.... should you? Nhs suggests 4-5 years old.

That’s ridiculous my dd was tested at 3 and yep she needed glasses she has pretty poor eyesight strong prescription.
What about a older child who is not typical who can’t read do they not preform eye exams on those children?

Opticians are struggling with social distancing, cleaning between tests, etc etc. They have to prioritise. If they generally find that 4 year olds don't need glasses, then it's a bit of a waste of their scarce appointment slots when they'll have large numbers of people waiting who do need new glasses. Secondly, I suspect they'll get more money from adults etc - so it's nonsensical to use a slot to make, say £10 from a child when they could use to to make, say £100 from an adult (test plus glasses). They'll be desperately trying to recoup some of their losses over the past few months, so won't be keen on giving precious slots to people who probably don't need them and won't really contribute to their funds.

I remember getting mine done very young at specsavers and pretty sure my niece has had hers checked at 5. She can read though and so could I but I'm sure they used pictures, there was one of a hot air balloon. They could at least examine her eyes, there are several tests done on your eyes that dont include reading.

There is vision screening during the reception year at school in many areas but this is not universal. The vision screening will then refer a child for further testing if their vision is reduced. If you have a family history of early onset eye problems you can take your child to a high street optometrist earlier but it is worth looking for one with more experience testing young children. The school screening programme has also been suspended during Covid so do find an optician if you are concerned .

It's a long time ago now but when DD1 was 2y5m she had a squint. Our HV got us a referral to the local eye unit and DD was under the care of the orthoptists there for around 4 years. Because of the family history, they checked out DD2 when she was only around 12m and she was fine. The hospital gave us the prescription but couldn't dispense the actual glasses so I went to check out the local places when the DDs were at nursery to see which would be best. I went to Vision Express where my MiL was a frequent flyer. They were unbelievably rude to me, accusing me of treating DD like a fashion accessory, saying children of that age didn't need glasses. Boots were not much better. I went to SpecSavers and they were brilliant. They showed me their ranges, commenting that children of DD's age often had wide nose bridges so showed me relevant styles. I booked in there and then and DD got her glasses.

Once discharged from the hospital, we carried on going there and they always treated her really well, answering questions and taking their time. She is still a regular there and has now just got her first set of contact lenses at age 21. Her last eye exam was in July so they are definitely working, but they posted out her new glasses to her. BTW I don't work for them!

OP, given the family history, it would be worth checking out if you can access an orthoptist. They are trained to use pictures and watch for facial reactions rather than relying on the child's responses. Alternatively, ask around as many different opticians as you can to see if you can get an appointment for a test. It's not uncommon and I think it would be sensible to get it sorted if you can before your LO starts school.

I avoid high street opticians like the plague. Find a decent indy preferably one which specialises in children.

Optometrist here and eye tests should be done earlier the better.
Some practices will decide not to sed young children but you should be able to find some that will. Independents are a good shout. All Specsavers and Asda practices that I have worked for have seen young children. I realise that doesnt mean they all will! Persevere and find somewhere.....or ask why they are refusing an NHS sight test!