children's eye tests - are they free?

[ramonaquimby]

Hi, hoping someone can help.

I'd like to book my children in for eye tests - are they free at most places, and are there better places than others to book in for this?

We have a number of opticians locally (Boots, Specsavers, etc)

many thanks

Yes and free glasses.

Yep and free glasses up to a certain value, or that value discount on more expensive glasses.

(a lot of places replace free if damaged too, dd had hers replaced free many many a few times for scratched lenses or broken frames.

Sorry, free Nhs glasses. I took my D d to Specsavers, I can't remember if I paid for her glasses I'm sure I didn't.

I think at Specsavers its free from the £64 range for children, teens are free from the 80 something pound range.

My optician recently wrote to me flogging some special eye test for children that was going to cost £18. I am not sure whether I am being neglectful as I have not booked it, or whether they are trying it on.

Opticians are great with children, eye tests are free and as others have said glasses are free or heavily subsidised.

Just choose an optician that's easy to get to, of your DCs do need glasses they do tend to give them a hard life at first.

My lovely lot even managed to get me another free pair to replace ones lost in Disney.

And if you are in Scotland adult eye tests are free too.

Yes, they are free. I would suggest booking into your local independent optician rather than Specsavers. Specsavers only allow 20 minutes per appointment slot, but locals tend to allocate 30 minutes, so you will be less rushed. Glasses are normally free, but you can upgrade to a nicer frame, and still get them fitted with free lenses.

Eye tests are free for everyone in Scotland. Well done the Scottish government!

Almost all children in Scotland have a pre-school eye test (In the year prior to starting school even if they are deferring).

Do any of your friends kids have glasses? If yes would they recommend their optician?

Small independent opticians do tend to have longer appointment slots so they do have the ability to spend more time with your kids.

thanks everyone, have booked into independent place during half term.

Importance of a full eye health check for Kids
Good vision is important to a child's development as a lot of what they learn is taken in through their eyes.
When your child is born, the paediatrician will check their vision when they are still in the hospital ward.
It is terribly rare for there to be any drawback with a newborn's vision.
A newborn's eye is about 75% of the size of an adult eye, and it will continue to develop for the first two years of life.
most opticians advises that youngsters should have their 1st eye examination at the age of 5 years.
They do not have to be able to read - the optometrist has lots of other fun ways to test youngsters' sight.
They will use techniques suitable to your child's stage of development and are able to assess whether a child needs glasses without having to ask the child any questions.
There are special charts for young children who don't know their alphabet and opticians also use shapes, picture books and other materials to help them indicate what they can see and how clearly.
Children will have regular vision screenings as part of their routine developmental checks and though invaluable, are not as thorough as a test by an optometrist.
Learning difficulties will generally be caused by uncorrected vision issues, therefore the earlier they will be detected, the higher the possibility of correcting them.
Whats more is your child get two free pairs of glasses at specsavers.
Think Boots do 1 pair FREE on the NHS. Don't really know what the rest do. My kids go to the Liverpool www.specsavers.co.uk/stores/kirkby

Unfortunately many local authorities don't offer routine eye screening any more, that's why regular eye examinations are important for children.

They should have their first eye examination before they start school or earlier if you notice that they're struggling to read something, either eye is turning either inwards or outwards, or there is a family history of childhood eye problems (such as a squint or lazy eye). Or if there is anything else eye related that you're worried about.

Learning difficulties such as dyslexia are not caused by visual problems, but if a child has a learning difficulty or disability, uncorrected visual problems will only compound difficulty.