REGULAR EYE TESTS FOR ALL CHILDREN

[yorkshirepudding]

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i thought that they got one before school and it was supposed to be reg after that?

And anyway, if your DD hadn't told you earlier about any probs how would you have known?!

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From what age does your optician suggest you should start taking them?

got to be honest, it had never crossed my mind either

When I asked my HV about eye tests I was told that preschools don't need check ups unless you have a reason to be concerned. Looks like HVs might need this information too!

DD had the eye check at school, in receotion. Although that cam bakk with no problems I did take her to the opticians or a check too, so she was just turned 5. DD's eyes are fine - a very slight astigmastism in one eye, causing the tiniest amount of short sightedness. But nothing to worry about. Other eye perfect. They said to come back in two years.

Mine have been going every year since they were babies. Tbh I started because my Dad has congenital cataracts so I was concerned that these may have been inherited.

However, as the tests are free and can also pick up other problems, I have continued. My dds love their visits to the opticians and it is quite reassuring to know that they are not struggling to see the blackboard.

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DD1 was discovered at school medical to have short sight at about 6, and following from that all my kids have had eye tests routinely (and all have needed specs ).

I agree that it should be promoted more. If she hadn't had problems I don't know how soon the others would have been picked up.

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I took my ds to D & A when he was 3, and they now send me annual reminders,which is very handy. The test is great, designed specially for small children, and I was also surprised to hear from the optometrist that all children should be tested regularly.

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dd1 is 7 and has wore glasses since she was 4 months old. She had a very promanite (sp?) lazy eye and I asked the HV to refer her to the hospital, she is very long sighted and she has yearly checkups now. DS is 9 and has wore glasses since he was 4 years old. It was only picked up on because his consultant realised that many children with Cerebral palsy have sight problems and referred us to the eye clinic too.
Dd2 has yearly checkup because of DS and DD1, but doesn't need glasses (yet) she is slightly long sighted, but not enough to need glasses.

All children should be checked and glasses wore if needed

I still get reminders from specsavers and D&A, even though my kids are seen at the hospital.

I had DS1's done for the first time the other week (he is 5yo) and it turns out he is probably colour blind, they want him re-tested at Christmas to be sure, but we wouldn't have had a clue before that.

Specsavers always send me reminders.

I asked Specsavers if the could test DSs eyes when he was 5, they said no and that I should get in touch with Moorfields as they specialise in eye tests on younger children.

Not sure why they can't do it at the store, DS knows all his alphabet so could read the letters. He has been complaining of headaches although I'm inclined not to believe him as they come on when he is about to get in trouble!

My ds's have regular eye tests cos their mother (me of course) had a lazy eye and they can be hereditary. But it only came out at ds2's 8m check when dp mentioned it. So they've been for an eye test and we will get a reminder to come back next year.

Hello Yorkie, please don't beat yourself up about this - if you didn't wear glasses yourself as a child then you don't have any reason to suspect your own kids need them. IMO most children wouldn't need to be tested until they are starting school but then we would tend to send annual reminders. The exceptions are if one of the parents or brother/sister has a lazy eye or very strong glasses in which case they should be tested asap. if the local optician is not up to seeing a very young one they can be seen within the hospital eye service (you can be referred by an optician or your GP). Similarly if you think your childs eye seems to turn in or out you should get them tested asap. The reason they say 8 is too late is because it is generally up to the age of 8 that all the pathways between the eye and brain develop so this is when our visual potential is determined. Thanks for bumping the thread!

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I had dss (ds1 5, ds2 3) tested as dh and I are both short-sighted. Turned put ds1 needs glasses and optician said I came at a very good time as there was a still a chance of completely correcting his vision.

kid I am very surprised they said that. Ds2 was three when he was tested, the optician showed him pictures to name - luckily his eyesight is good. And for children who are difficult to test they put in eyedrops and then examine the eye itself to determine eyesight problems.

I was very aware of the need to test as children often don't realise they can't see properly. I remember squinting at the hymnsheets in assembly when I was at school and it never occurred to me that I needed glasses. I was just surprised that everyone else could see them clearly.

a friend of my mum's didn't realise until she was at university that other people could see individual leaves on trees - getting glasses at the age of 20 and being able to see stuff really freaked her out apparently.

I am already worried about this - my dd is 10 months. I have been wearing glasses since i was about 7 or 8. when should i take her for her first eye test then? 2? 3?

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