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Eye tests

19 replies

humpydumptynumbty · 22/08/2018 07:26

When should a child start having eye tests?

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JLG19 · 22/08/2018 07:39

There's something about this on BBC News this morning. Expert said from age 3.

Whatsthispain · 22/08/2018 07:42

We've just been and the optician said from age 5. I know they have sight tests in reception. They have pictures instead of the alphabet.

JLG19 · 22/08/2018 07:46

According to the lady on BBC News today, not all schools offer a sight test and those that do only do a basic screening. Better to take them to an optometrist for a full eye test.

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Sirzy · 22/08/2018 07:47

Unless there is something specifically worrying you I would say around 4-5. Most areas do a screening in reception which would pull up anything not quite right which needs following up.

Whatsthispain · 22/08/2018 08:27

Just to add that dd has just her reception screening which she passed, but optician has found a possible issue with sight.

dementedpixie · 22/08/2018 08:32

My local optician tests from age 3

Cric · 22/08/2018 08:33

We took our daughter when she was 3 because of a concern that we had.

Kim82 · 22/08/2018 08:36

I took dd a couple of weeks ago and she’s just turned 4. They recommended we test her just before she starts school as her sister is short sited, as am I, and I also have a lazy eye. It meant they would pick up any problems before she starts school so she wasn’t struggling in class.

I didn’t take my older dc at that age though, for some reason it just didn’t cross my mind, it was only when dd1 kept getting headaches when she was 7 that I thought to take her, I’ve no idea why I didn’t think about it before. I felt really guilty as she needed glasses and obviously had for a while.

celebrityskin · 22/08/2018 08:44

My daughter had her first eye test in reception at 4.5. Didn't occur to take her sooner as had no concerns. Picked up a significant issue (amblyopia) and she needed to wear a patch for a long while. I would definitely take your child at 3, they are generally compliant enough by then.

TheFifthKey · 22/08/2018 08:47

I took DD a few weeks ago at 4.5 as she’s starting to read and I wanted to make sure she could see the words etc properly. Then got an appointment through straight after for her reception sight screening which I took her too yesterday - when DS was that age I just assumed her reception screening was enough - I feel bad now having seen the massive different between the optician sight test and the reception screening! I’m sure it picks up on any major problems but the optician’s testing was so much more thorough. So I’d advise booking your own eye test certainly from about 4.

humpydumptynumbty · 22/08/2018 14:02

Thank you - do I just pick a local opticians or do I consult the doctor first?

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dementedpixie · 22/08/2018 14:56

Ring local opticians and see if they offer eye tests to children. No need to see a doctor first.

Havetothink · 22/08/2018 16:48

Ours saw an optician at 18 months (which I don't really recommend) because of an issue but we were told the eyes can change and develop and problems with vision can be helped up until about 7 years when the issues become more permanent.

HeyMicky · 22/08/2018 16:50

I took DD last summer before she started reception to make sure there were no issues that would impact learning at school. Optician wasn't that fussed and said not to worry for another 18 months or so unless I noticed a problem

4GreenApples · 22/08/2018 17:04

Our local opticians do routine eye tests from 3. We contacted them directly.

They’ve got charts with pictures on for children who haven’t learnt to read yet.

Having said that, my DC weren’t really mature enough to cooperate well enough for the full eye test until they were 4.

Cric · 22/08/2018 21:08

We went to the optician and then when they were also concerned they referred us to the eye hospital.

namechangedcausebored · 22/08/2018 21:12

I took my kids from year 1 onwards, thought that any problems would be picked up in the school screening. Our local specsavers said they’d only do from age 5, so recently took my lot for their annual test (first proper one for the youngest) and turns out he’s got astigmatism in one eye. No idea why it wasn’t picked up in the School screening - so I’d say go as soon as you can and don’t rely on the school screening.

nordicwannabe · 24/08/2018 21:02

Age 3. Opticians have tests with pictures so the child doesn't need to be able to read.

It's not just about whether they're getting on ok: Visual processing pathways are developing in the brain during early childhood, and if there's a problem with their eyes (or often only 1 eye) then they don't develop the neural pathways correctly. The result is that even with corrective glasses they still can't see. This is called amblyopia, and it affects about 3% of the population.

It can be improved if you catch it in time by wearing glasses and then patching. But by far the best results in correcting it are if it's discovered by the age of 3. Up to about age 7, they can usually get a good improvement but after that, it's much harder and slower (although even adults can get some improvement).

It's surprising the number of adults who have very limited sight in one eye - they just don't mention it. You only discover this when your child goes out and about with a patch!

You can get by fine most of the time with only one eye, but it has implications for speed and ease of reading, and also ability to see 3d. And most importantly, it means that losing the good eye would have very serious consequences. Amblyopia almost doubles the person's risk of complete blindness at some point in their life (up to 1.2%)

It's so easy to get childrens eyes tested, and it could save your child's sight. It's even free. I don't understand why this isn't better known and pushed by HVs etc.

nordicwannabe · 24/08/2018 21:12

Oh, and if your DC 'didn't comply' in the Reception eye test then definitely take them yourself asap.

Children who can't see out of one eye will quite often not comply with having it tested... because they can't see out of it, and that's unpleasant!

They're used to compensating with their good eye - and will go to all sorts of lengths to use it again!

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