Eye test for kids in R.I.O

[KellyCO]

Hey everyone ,..
I am relocating to R.O.I in a few weeks with my two kids. My son us 4 years old and today we found out he is farsighted and needs prescription 2. Something . I am hopefully getting glasses soon.

But what I like to know is , I. Ireland will your children be entitled to free eye tests/ prescriptions and glasses?

Thank you in advance
Kelly

You will need to make contact with your public health nurse if he has issues with his sight and get him on a waiting list to be seen. Then his tests at the local health centre will be free and I think you are covered for glasses up to a certain cost. I know I still ended up paying over €200 for my daughter's the last time she needed new ones .

Two sons with glasses they were identified as needing an eye test at age four one got called at age 11 the other is 9 and still waiting.

Specsavers do a test and glasses for a reasonable price..

If you are relocating to Ireland you will need to sort his pps number before he can go any list.

Oh my god @Marblessolveeverything that's crazy. We were only about six months if even on a waiting list initially but I'd already gone private anyway as obviously if there was an issue I couldn't be waiting. And my other two children have been called for check ups as well just as a precaution over their sister having such bad eyesight so its mad how it's so different everywhere

I am in Dublin and it just was beyond a joke. Eventually the eldest got called to a HSE outsourced appointment private practice in Ranelagh. Ten minutes later had a voucher and prescription. So he got one discounted pair of glasses before the cut off.

It's the same with teeth and orthodontics I know of several friends who have medical cards and no way of paying for what is being advised as necessary intervention.

Then you sickeningly hear about how many millions surplus we have as a company.

They can get referred through the school system. So he'd be seen by a nurse in junior or senior infants and then referred if needs be. But you should get referred earlier by gp maybe as you know he has issues with sight. Then tests are free.

I didn't want to wait so paid for an eye test at about 4 (there are earlier public health tests, however nothing had shown up for an extremely uncooperatve DC but I was suspicious).

But whether you go public or private for testing the HSE will then cover the cost of children's lenses and frames up to a certain price point (which varies depending on the prescription). They cover the basics but if you want designer frames or to get the lenses made thinner or to get a spare pair of glasses you will be paying extra for these yourself. I went to Specsavers and they organised the paperwork etc, I'm sure other places do likewise. If you don't want to wait that's the sort of approach people sometimes choose - ie do the test bit privately and then the state will pay for the glasses anyway. This is for under 12s at least, I'm not sure after that.

As a pp said your child will need a PPS number first though.

To sum up - as pp has described waiting times on the public system can be very long sometimes and this varies depending on where you live too.

So even if he has new glasses when he arrives I'd be looking to get him referred and on a waiting list asap. And if you haven't been seen by the time he needs new glasses I'd pay for a test privately if you can afford it. Then get the glasses paid for on the public system (as all basic glasses for under 12s are).

Also basic eye tests cost about €20 - €30.

The HSE are ridiculous. If your kids will also need braces in future I would start saving now as they cost circa 4k per child. We were waiting that long that we just paid specsavers for the tests and it was 35euro. I would not rely on the hse for anything if you can avoid it.

That is shocking and horrifying I'm so sorry 😞

Thank you 😊 I'm moving mid August so I think I'll need wait for the pps numbers before get the health visitor. Good to know they are covered

Very shocking 😲

It's insane system

Thank you so much very helpful information 😀 just need his pps number then get ball rolling . Think we are getting glasses here but more about the optshmaologist appt. Ill.call my family GP see if get referral

That's a very good plan . Thank you so much really helps settle my stress about it 🙂

I will take this into account . Sounds crazy 🤪