When’s the right age for your child to have an eye test? What about wearing lenses or sunglasses? Share your thoughts with Specsavers - you could win £250 NOW CLOSED

[AnnMumsnet]

Back in November, Specsavers commissioned a survey of MNers with a child aged 2 to 12 to find out what age parents thought children should have their first eye test.

The average age given by MNers was 3. Specsavers advises children have their first eye test at age 3 – because "Learning difficulties can sometimes be caused by uncorrected vision problems, so the earlier they can be detected, the better the chance of correcting them" say Specsavers.

The average age given by MNers was 15 for first wearing contact lenses – in fact Specsavers say they can be worn from age 10 - "we often find children quickly enjoy the many benefits of wearing contacts from a young age."

And for sunglasses – MNers thought they should be worn on sunny days from age 2 – Specavers says "many people aren't aware of the dangers UV rays can have on the health of your eyes - we'd recommend all children wear sunglasses on a sunny day!"

Please share your thoughts on the above on this thread - would you let your pre-teen have contacts, have you taken your school aged child for an eye test and how do you keep sunnies on your toddler when they are having fun in the sun!?

Add your thoughts to this thread and you'll be entered into a prize draw where one MNer will win a £250 voucher from here

Please note Specsavers may use your comments - anon of course - on their pages on MN, on their social media or possibly elsewhere - please only post if you're happy with this.

Thanks and good luck
MNHQ

My children both wear glasses and had first eye test at 4 - I wouldn't let them wear contacts until at least 16 and both have prescription sunglasses for holidays

My children have never had an eye test! I don't know why I never thought before about getting one done. I'd like to know at what age children are supposed to have their eyes tested. I'd say 5.
No one in our family wear glasses or have any problems with our eyes. I do however, think that sunglasses are essential for everyone. As long as they're safe ones, that block out the rays properly.
I had no idea that children could wear contact lenses, as long as the parents made sure everything was kept very clean, I can't see a problem.

Our 7 year was given a prescription that was twice the strength he required, we were never sure whether it was down to the optician or the answers he gave.

My daughter wore glasses while she learnt to read, but then her eyes seemed to grow out of whatever it was. Just as well, she didn't really like wearing them.

I have never taken my children to have their eyes tested. Both are doing really well at school and they read with ease so I am sure their eyes are OK. Any sign that they were squinting or struggling to see... I would take them down there in a jiffy.

I am an Orthoptics student and am the one who does the eye tests on children in hospitals. If there is a problem with a child's sight or an optician isn't able to do the test then a child is seen by us. If a child has drops in their eyes then an optician can check the prescription of a child's eyes without the child having to do anything. The earlier a child has glasses if they need them then the longer professionals like myself have to change the vision if needs be, vision develops until the age of 7 years. 3 years is a perfect age but a child needs to have some basic words like fish or car in order for me to do an eye test with pictures instead of letters in the clinic. It's great that parents are thinking about their child's eyes, I hear so many parents who just assumed that there was no problem and we have run out of time to improve the vision

l think age 4-5 are the right age as they can explain what they see then
and have any treatment before school starts

My daughter had a squint & had to wear glasses & have one eye patched at times when she was in reception class, we found it very difficult to ensure that she did this (particularly keeping the patch on), however it had to be done at this time or else it would never get better. Subsequently she still has the tiniest remnant when she's tired if you look very closely. I really think it all depends on the child as my son never takes his glasses off atall (just as she always takes her shoes off the second she is indoors which drives me mad)! Personally I wouldn't like a child to use contacts until at least 13yrs as not taking care with them & cleaning them frightens me a lot, however I have never tried them myself, maybe I'm just scared of them in general. ??

I feel 3 is a reasonable age to get your kids eyes tested but as for contacts I would rather my child wait til at least 12 or older to put them in I wouldn't want them messing with and irritating their eyes at such a young age.

Early detection of things like 'lazy eye' is crucial. I didn't get tested till I was 7 and missed the treatment that could have saved my stereo vision. Now I'll never pilot Concorde :-(

Parents can be incredibly blind (pun intended) to their DCs poor sight while paranoid about food or 'stranger danger'. I was only tested when a teacher realised I couldn't see the blackboard. (Remember those?)

I'm really glad I stumbled on this thread - I'm pretty sure this will be on my mum's To Do list with my nieces when they move in with her, but I'll double-check with her just to make sure. I doubt their folks will have bothered, unfortunately.

My son had his first eye test at 4. He enjoyed going to the opticians and it went well.
My son is 5 now, he is happy to wear sunglasses when the sun is out. My 21 month old daughter also has sunglasses, frozen ones, and she loves wearing them and being like her big brother.
I would be happy for my kids to have contacts but not until about 12 as they would be more better at remembering to do what they need to and I would feel like they would be more responsible at that age

My children all had their sight tested at age 3 because when I was a child I had a squint which was detected at age 3 and as a result it was successfully treated. I haven't given much thought to the idea of sunglasses although now I think I must! I better get to Specsavers...

I have just recently taken my son for first eye test - which he found really enjoyable. He is 4 and I have worn glasses since that age so thought it best to take him. The staff in the opticians made it really fun for him and he goes back in three months - he has very good vision but I wouldnt let him wear lenses if he did need a prescription - not until he was mature enough and hygienic enough - this may be some time off yet lol

I think just before school is the right time. Think not lenses with very young children - about 10 perhaps

I had my children's eyes tested before they were 3 because of my childhood experience. My brother had a turn in his eye when he was a toddler and my mum took us both to the opticians. The optician advised he wore a patch as he had a 'lazy eye.' Mum and my brother carried on visiting the same optician quite regularly for 3 years. However my brothers eyes didn't improve. The school optician saw him for a routine check and referred him. Mum was told by a specialist that if he had received the right treatment his eye would have been so much better, instead he is left 80% blind in one eye!! My mum still beats herself up for not listening to her gut feeling and getting a second opinion. Mum knew better but relied on a professional?!?
Thankfully my children have no eye problems but I still take them for regular check ups as the eyes can reveal so much.

3 years old

Both my sons have had regular eye tests from an early age, as my eldest had a lazy eye, and was seen by a hospital optometrist. He still wears glasses at 15, but my younger son doesn't need them.

When my eldest was about 10 he was keen on the idea of contact lenses, but I was worried that his personal hygiene (or the lack of it!) might lead to eye infections. Now he's polder I'd be happy for him to try them, if he wants to.

I do wish I'd been more insistent on them wearing sunglasses - littlest DS is too "busy" to remember them, and oldest DS finds them difficult with his regular glasses. I'm currently trying to persuade him to have a prescription pair.

I meant to say, I'm glad in a way that my son had a "visible" eye condition which meant we got into the habit of regular eye tests. As a teacher, I come across a large number of children whom I'm pretty sure need an eye test, but have never been taken for one, well into their teens.

I still haven't got around to taking my daughter, she is 3. I will definately do it now that she has started school.
I always encourage her to wear sunglasses, but I have to admit I have no interest to get into a battle with her if she doesn't. You have to pick your battles wisely!

My kids seem to be taking after their Dad with 20:20 vision but because of my history were tested in hospital from a young age.

I wore glasses from age 7 and contacts from age 10. I started with hard lenses and have never had an eye infection (unlike my husband who seems to have them every other week).

Both boys wear sunglasses all summer to protect their eyes so I dont think either would have a problem if they needed to wear them.

I wear contacts and would recommend them but maybe not until 11or12 as they can be difficult to adjust to for a while

I'm thinking of getting my son transition sunglasses, the sun gives him migraines but he'll never to switch from glasses to sunglasses even if he had them with him..

I've only had one of my sons tested when he kept screwing up his eyes. Nothing wrong but this thread has prompted me to have them both done again. Comparing it to going to the dentist is really persuasive!

I wear contacts and I'm expecting that DS will need glasses/ contacts at some point as the whole family are pretty short-sighted. I didn't get contacts until I was an adult and was vaguely mature enough to clean them properly, but tbh even in my 20s I probably wasn't great! I won't object to DS having contacts at a younger age (especially as I just refused to wear my glasses to school so could never see the board) but would probably want to oversee the hygiene aspect.