Vision Express eye test

[GarlicBreadStan]

Posting here for traffic (sorry! This seems to be the most popular, high traffic place on Mumsnet)

My son, 7, has an eye test coming up on Friday at Vision Express. He has very high social anxiety, and won't even nod or shake his head in the presence of strangers, never mind talk to them when they ask him questions.

I just wondered how Vision Express will conduct an eye test on a child who doesn't speak to strangers? He's very anxious and keeps asking what they're going to do in the eye test, so I just want to let him know.

Thank you x

Edited to add: I did try ringing Vision Express but they didn't answer the phone (I possibly rang them at the wrong time, knowing me 🙄) but I also posted here to get people's personal experiences x

Ask them what they will do and explain your son's social anxiety.
Your Eye Test Explained | Vision Express

I took my daughter to vision express (suspected selective mutism) and they were great with her when I explained. Difference is she will nod/shake with persuasion from me. They did struggle to get accurate answers from her and tried to put in eye drops to dilate the pupils which ended up with her screaming and refusing and hospital referral 🫠

Rather than ringing I think I would pop
to the shop before then if you can as these conversations are better in person. You can explain his anxiety and ask about the process - so much easier than over the phone. I hope it goes well.

The problem with Vision Express (and most opticians) is that they can have different opticians all the time. With my DS I was really lucky to have someone who also worked at the eye hospital and was very used to children. My DS could never have the light shone in his eyes, so I had to tell them, some were good, some didn’t have the patience to deal with him, so we would leave and go back another time to see someone else.

He's not had an eye test before (We've moved around a lot) so I think that's another reason why he's anxious. I'm just hoping that I can find a way to explain it all to him. The website doesn't even give a lot of information about how they do eye tests on non verbal or socially anxious children, and he really needs reassurance as soon as possible as I won't be able to get him there on Friday otherwise. He'll point blank refuse 😔 he's had a lot of headaches over the past few weeks, and I know that if I take him to the GP, they'll tell us to go to the opticians first, which I can understand

I prefer to go to an independent optician.

That's not a bad idea for future appointments but I've only ever had good experiences with Vision Express myself so I want to go somewhere reputable for his first one

I've had a good experience with them too (but shouldn't have gone to the one beginning with S).

Specsavers are shit. The last time I went there I ended up getting so frustrated with the service that I just walked out

Would would call again tomorrow and explain. We do a eye exam on a completely non-verbal child, we just use a sheridan gardiner where they point at the letters rather than saying them (we can just print it out, hence needing to call tomorrow). And we can do all the other tests using a light.

Specsavers are all franchised. Some are excellent, others aren't.

Thank you, that's really helpful. I honestly don't think he'd even point to the letters, but maybe I could print out a similar practice sheet to do with him at home, just to give him an idea of what to do.

Lots of videos on YouTube to show the eye test, if that might help?

Thank you! Why didn't I think of this?

Update:

He had his eye test and was fine. The person who performed it was lovely and patient, and my little boy did manage to find a way to communicate using his hands when asked and prompted. He got a milkshake as a reward

Excellent new @GarlicBreadStan . You both did well.

news. Must get my eyes tested.

I recommend asking for a senior or experienced optician.

I always do that as I have a rare eye disease and once had an upsetting experience with a newly qualified optician who was clearly out of her depth with me. I ended up walking out.

I also always explain that I have a bit of an eye phobia (a rare eye disease and eye phobia is not a good combination!)

I hope it goes well for your son.

Sorry, just seen your update!