DD failed Reception eye test

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DD came home with a letter in her bag saying that they'd done eye tests today at school, and that she'd failed the test. It doesn't give any details, just says that she will now receive an appointment for a follow-up screening at the local hospital.

I've never noticed any problems, and she's getting on fine with reading and writing. Am really worried now :( What sort of problems would they be looking for?

Goodness, they actually said she "failed" an eye test? What a strange turn of phrase for a medical check.

I guess she might need glasses. If she does she'll find things a lot easier, so it's not anything to be "really worried" about. Be really pleased that they picked it up, as she can only benefit!

I wouldn't panic. I was talking to an optician a few weeks back, and they said that about 50% had failed when they did the testing of reception children. They can't all have had eyesight problems. Even if there is a problem, it can't be that severe, if she is reading and writing OK. Worse case scenario is that she needs glasses, which really isn't the end of the world.

Thanks :) yes, it's not the end of the world, I'm just a big worrier. It's not a referral to an optician, so wouldn't that be what they'd do if it was short-sighted/long-sighted? Sorry, am clearly clueless!

It's probably because of her age they've referred to the hospital rather than an optician. My DS is long sighted and has all his check ups at the hospital. So slightly long or short sighted is entirely possible.

DS2 'failed' his reception eye test as well. We got a referred to a community eye clinic, they re-did the test and in our case, all was well. As pp have said, this is very common. A few other children I know have been found to have a slightly lazy eye or to be mildly long/short sighted.

Thanks all, that's very helpful :)

Yes, don't worry, we had the hospital appointment, glasses prescribed with a very weak prescription (optician said she wouldn't have bothered for an adult but they were free under the NHS), DC wore them for a couple of months and that was it. Subsequent eye test showed no issues.

Don't feel bad, DD2 is short sighted I didn't notice. She only had her eyes tested to keep headache suffering big sister company.

Nothing wrong with DD1's eyes or anything else, life just gives her a headache.

The Reception eye tests have been really effective in picking up eye issues for 4 out of 45 children at the school where I teach. They all now have glasses. All were referred to the hospital, so this appears to be the standard route following the initial eye tests.

this happened to dd too. She apparent has poor vision in one eye due to lazy eye she had c to have glasses/ possibly a patch to correct it. tbh I was quite shocked at the hospital appointment because I didn't believe there was anything wrong and thought it was a mistake - It wasn't. She had nothing visible/ seemingly could see fine.

I'm sure all will be fine in the end, but very grateful if was picked up.

This happened to DS1 too. To be honest it was the best thing which could have happened because, according to my wonderful GP, it would have been very unlikely that his unusual condition would have been picked up at a regular test.

We hadn't noticed anything much either - he could still read very well and function perfectly normally - so don't beat yourself up.

DS1 is now in Year 3 and still under our fantastic eye hospital where they will be monitoring him until he's a teenager. I'm just very grateful for that eye test in school or his condition would have been much much worse (and possibly untreatable) before it was picked up.

Out of DD's reception class of 15, 6 were referred for further tests. 4 have glasses, one had a patch for a while and one was not taken any further. I really wouldn't worry too much!