NOW CLOSED Do you have a child aged 3 - 12 years? Take part in a survey about children's eye tests for Specsavers - £250 John Lewis voucher to be won

[KatieBMumsnet]

We've be asked by Specsavers to find out what Mumsnetters' opinions are on children's eye tests.

The survey is open to all UK Mumsnetters with at least one child aged 3 - 12 years. It doesn't matter if your child wears glasses or has never been for an eye test, we'd like to hear from all of you.

To take part in the survey please click here.

Everyone who completes the survey will be entered into a prize draw where one winner will receive a £250 John Lewis voucher.

Thanks and good luck,

MNHQ

[prettybird]

Ds has had his eyes tested every year since he was 3 or 4 (no problems with the optician doing it before he could read as they used pictures). Optician even had/has a box of cheap toys that they gave to young children as a reward. He's now 12 and so far his eyes have been fine.

He goes along with me as I need to go yearly 'cos I've got contact lenses.

See it in the same way as a dentist.

In Scotland, so eye tests are free - although both dh and I have close relatives with glaucoma so even in England I think my tests would be free, iirc.

[PainForLife]

Done - found the survey very interesting!

[MousyMouse]

done.
I also think eye tests should be done earlier, maybe one at a year old (for astigmatism) and definately one before starting school.
I also found it difficult to get an appointment with an optician (dc was 4), they wanted to fob me off to go to the eye clinic. but the eye clinic didn't accept self referrals and gp doesn't want to refer for non-medical...

[Patchouli]

Done.
My DD was refered to the hospital after the reception health check.
The school nurse said that they'd discovered a lot of unknown eyesight problems since the health visitors in our area had stopped doing the 2 year check.

[smokinaces]

Done.

I was more conscious of their eye health as I wear glasses myself. Ds1 complained of double vision aged three and has worn glasses full time since, about three and a half years. Ds2 we took as routine from three, but he only needed glasses recently aged five for reading.

Specsavers have been brilliant. They use drops and multiple tests to ensure they are accurate and their after care is excellent.

[MakeHayNotStraw]

Done. I found it really interesting to see how they tested a 2yo's eyes (and she just went again a couple of weeks ago)

[mankyscotslass]

Done

[youarewinning]

Done.

My dad is extremely long sighted, my DS father extremely short sighted and I have severe astigmatism with slight short sightedness!

Wasn't surprised to find DS has moderate atigmatism with mild (and not unusual for a child) long sightedness!

[LackaDAISYcal]

We had our DS checked at Specsavers, then an independant local optician picked up his colour blindness less than six months later. We were a bit miffed that thge specsavers test didn't include a check for colour blindness.

[LackaDAISYcal]

oh and specsavers said he was fine; the independant optician prescribed glasses. he is much happier and getting on better at school since getting them!

[ClaraOswinOswald]

Done. My 2 have had eye tests routinely from a young age. We have a great Specsavers near us, the optician has been in the news several times for going above and beyond so I trust him to spot anything if it was there. He even once drove the 40 miles to the nearest eye hospital with a patient in need of emergency treatment but with no transport of their own.

[notcitrus]

We have annual fairs at the health centre with stands offering advice on all sorts of healthcare stuff. I asked at the eye care stand whether ds should have an eye test seeing as he'd just turned 4, and they said no, he will get tested at school during Reception, and no point earlier unless you suspect a problem.

So that's the official NHS advice in my area, which seems to contradict what the opticians upthread are saying.

[Kithulu]

In this area all children get invited to go tho local hospital for eye check when they are 4. Does this not happen as standard elsewhere in the country?

[Meglet]

Done.

The children are tested in reception year once they start school and referred to the hospital if they have any problems.

[aristocat]

Very interesting, mine have only had the check at school. Never thought about getting them tested otherwise.

[SilveryMoon]

Done.
I wear glasses and have done for about 7 years (although should have done it years ealier than that)
Ds1 had a general health check at school last year (reception) and the report that was sent home said it was recommended to have his vision tested further.
He had to go to the opticians every 3 months to keep a check on it and was then given a prescription.
He now has to wear glasses for focused activity as it's a concentration aid.

Ds2 is just 4 and I am now thinking about taking him to get checked, maybe when I have to go again next month, but he cannot consistently recognise his letters yet, especially not in uppercase.

[ilovepowerhoop]

they dont need to know letters to get an eye test

[SilveryMoon]

When ds1 went, the optician used both pictures and letters. I wasn't fully convinced it was an accurate test because of ds1 not being 100% confident with uppercase letters and the pictures were rubbish.

[ClaraOswinOswald]

My girls were tested before they could read so it was mostly pictures, but the physical eye exam is probably even more revealing to the optician. Like the dentist, it is good to get them used to going young. Eyesight is still developing when young so spotting potential problems while young can be preventative of worse problems later in life.

[RaisingGirls]

Done, but I thought the statement "All children under 8 should be entitiled to one free pair of glasses on the NHS" was tricky. If, as I think is the case (?) problems detected with the eyesight of under 8s can often be resolved, it could be the case that the child needs several pairs of glasses with different prescriptions and also different sizes before their 8th birthday.

Are they suggesting that if the nhs paid for one pair, parents would have to fund any more? If that were the case, some parents would be unable to afford (or reluctant to pay for!) the additional pairs of glasses required and their children might not get the treatment their eyes need.

I felt that under 8s should be entitiled to as many pairs of glasses as were actually necessary for their treatment, just as they would be entitled to a new back brace (for example) in the treatment of spinal problems, as they outgrew the old one.

Just a thought... I actually don't know what the current rules are!

[AuntieBulgaria]

I read in our 'red book' that if there was a history of eye problems in the family, you could ask for a referral. Because of my crappy eye sight, I contacted our community mid-wife team when DD was about 2.5. We got directed to the community orthoptic clinic and from there to the hospital eye clinic where she saw an ophthalmologist and, as it turned out, ended up with a prescription for long sight and astigmatism.

She sees the orthoptists every 6 months and the ophthalmologist every year. Eventually, she will transfer to a regular opticians.

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

Wish this wasn't limited to age 12 as its a subject that I feel quite passionate about.

[CakeExpectations]

Done.
And I agree with Kitten. Vision of both DS1 and DS2 deteriorated quite rapidly after the age of 12.

[yummumummy]

Done. Must admit I need to be a bit more deligent about eye tests.

[BirdyBedtime]

Grrr just lost long post. But after huge probs with DD's vision not identified until P1 we took DS who also has probs but beause he was identified at 3 his prognosis is much better than DD who has been left with residual weakness in one eye. Don't let the idea of drops put you off. IME they are only used after a weakness has been identified to get the right prescription so if your DC's eyes are fine they won't use them.