Optician won't do eye test and GP thinks its not his place to refer

[Monkeyandanimal]

I think DS (3 yrs 9months old) may be short sighted, just because he tends not to notice things even when he is looking right at them. It could be a short attention/inability to concentrate thing too though. I and DH are both pretty short sighted. How can i get him an eye test when the doc and the optician both refuse to do it? (doc says optician should be able to do it, optician says ds is too young and should be referred to hospital. Optician may be right here as he is young/unable to cooperate for his age and has had developmental delays across the board, no diagnosis of anything specific but i suspect when he goes to school they may diagnose something like ADHD/dyspraxia/ slight autistic tendancies; i feel in the light of his delays he particularly needs all his senses working well). How can i get his eyes tested? Just wait until optician deems him old enough?

Vision Express will de free eye tests for children, but don't know if there is an age minimum. I would also try Boots and the other high street brands.

If you do want to go back to the GP, I would just send a letter and say "following our dicussion on x date regarding my concerns, I am requesting a referal for eye test for DS..."

He will will have to either refer you, or write you back to deline your request. He probably won't want to put it in writing because if there does turn out to be a problem with your son's eye, the GP will look like an arse.

Also, it saves you having to go to the GP. Much quick to pop a letter in the post.

Thanks all. Will get on the HV's case on monday! GP is useless; there are 2 docs that i usually see in our vast practice and one is def better than the other; i should have tried her! HER....ah yes, that explains it! ;-)