Eye tests

[usernametaken]

I would like to get DD's (age 4y3m) eyes tested ASAP. Are there any specialist kid opticians about or do I just phone Boots or similar and book an appointment and hope that they know how to deal with an uncooperative child that does not respond if she thinks she is wrong!
I know some kids get seen at school but apparently this is not to be at DD's school.

Many thanks.

Did the health visitor not organise one for him as one of the surveilance checks?

Ds was never sent for one so I organised one myself with Boots. You just go in and make an appointment. You may wish to warn them that she's reluctant to play ball.

DD has only seen the HV once...we were abroad and no-one checked there. The HV didn't check either, I guess she assumed she'd been seen when we were living abroad.
I'll just phone Boots then and warn them...then heavily bribe DD!

Do you have a particular worry about your dd's vision?

I took my dd to the GP when she was nearly 4 because I thought she had a squint. DD hid under the GP's chair and refused to come out, so he wrote a referral letter which said 'mother reports that child has a squint'. That got us to the children's vision clinic at the hospital and they have taken care of her and her eyes ever since. If you have got a concern, I think getting an appointment with a specialist in children's eye problems rather than a high street optician (great as they are) may be better.

I would see the hospital eye clinic if you are worried about a squint but in fact seeing a high street optician will be fine at your dd's age.

My dd was checked from 3 onwards and they have pictures rather than letters to assess the vision at this age.

You will get an appointment much quicker with an optician and if she needs referral on to the hospital they can often speed it up anyway.

I would just ask to speak to someone in the practice and ask them if the optician she will see is good with younger children.Explain your concerns so they can forewarn the optician although they will be quite used to this and have tests they can do to check the vision that don't rely on any answers.