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

I don't think there is a 'right' age to get their eyes tested, just when it is needed depending on the individual. Having Specsavers on the high street makes it very convenient to get their eyes tested without having to make appointments days in advance. Just what parents need!

My son had a sight test at school in his first term in reception - which is about right as we hadn't had any issues with his vision. My SIL is a medical student and noticed my daughter seems to have lazy eye, the GP couldn't see it but am thinking of taking her to the opticians to get it checked out.

Both my husband and I have been wearing glasses for yonks - I never wanted contacts, too phobic of putting things in/near my eyes! If either of the kids needed glasses, I would want them to try contacts till around 16.

I haven't thought about this much to be honest. DD is 3 and I havent had her eyes tested. Now thinking of arranging it. She does hold books very close to her face!

my kids have been going to the optitions since the age of five.i have always made sure they have worn sunglasses as poor sight runs in both my husbands and my family and i try to do as much as i can to protect their eyes.
as for contacts in 10 year olds, i guess its ok im lucky my three only wear glasses occasionally for close up work but if they felt self conscious about wearing glasses i would concider contacts for them but would need support in using them as im not confident in how to use and look after contacts.

Only yesterday, my 5 year old asked DH and I 'which eye do you see out of?'. It turns out that he claims when he closes his right eye, the vision in his left eye is blurry, but is ok the other way round.

I've always thought his eyesight seems fine, but since myself and my brother both wore pretty strong prescription glasses for short-sightedness from primary school age, I suppose I'd better get him tested. I was wondering yesterday how they adapt the sight test for little ones who are only just learning to read, but since others on this thread have been tested much younger, then I'd better get him booked in.

I've worn glasses for over 30 years, with only a short time of rather unsuccessful contact lens wearing whilst at uni. They were the old-style gas permeable, and I could feel the lens on my eye every time I blinked! It put me off contact lenses ever since, although I hope they've improved in the last 20years or so!

I have been thinking about taking my 3 year old for a sight test, this
thread has reminded me to book it. I had poor eyesight as a child but it wasn't picked up til age 7, and I remember struggling to read the blackboard.
We have used the sunglasses that come with elastic straps for our little ones-with mixed success.They are less likely to fall off but can be pulled off by little hands if they don't like wearing them!

As soon as possible.
Dc1 had 2 checks (clinic) but only the independent optician seen around the age of 6 picked up on an unusual sort of squint.
Afaik squints have to be diagnosed early, as at around age 8,the eyesight can be permanently affected if left untreated.
It was lucky I had decided I may as well make them an appointment when I did!

Suffering a lazy eye as a child (which was eventually corrected with surgery), meant regular optician and eye doctor appointments were a big part of my childhood... naturally I took my own children as a matter of course, much like a visit to the dentists for regular check-ups.
After all our eyes are every bit as important as our teeth.

I first took my Dcs for eye tests at around 3, which I think was about right

I can't imagine a 10 year old coping with contacts though I've failed with them I would wait until vanity kicks in, unless there was a very practical reason.

We have always done sunglasses, or very wide brimmed hats from birth.
DS1 had his first eye screen in reception aged 4, and one schools advice, he had an eye test over the Easter hols, aged 5. All clear, but think I'll take DS2 earlier.

Contacts: that would be up to DH to deal with. I am very very squeemish about contacts - I can't watch Mum or DH put them in. I'm surprised about the 10 yrs bit - tho if they are sporty boys, I can see it being useful.

Maybe about four years of age ?? I have really bad eye sight and unfortunately my daughters do !! at least glasses are fashionable nowadays

I took my dd for an eye test at 5 as she was complaining of not seeing the board at school.
I wouldn't let them have lenses until they were in their teens unless they were competitively sporty. Too much risk about hygene and misuse for me.
Toddler and sunnies - I made them fun and they wanted to wear them.

I will get ds1's eyes tested v soon as his cousin had an undiagnosed squint which made starting school and learning to read harder. Both he and ds2 have worn sunglasses from infancy. They have inherited my weepy eyes in the sun!

Both my two boys had glasses since they were three they are now 14 and 17 we have always used spectators I find it hard to believe people go elsewhere and pay when ss have such a vast free range, even designers one are fantastic value and my eldest has those often, my boys both had issues spotted before and actual test, my daughter had hers tested and was gutted she didn't need them, my younger is three and will be having a test soon.

My twins went very early as I recall they were under a year, my daughter I believed had a squint, it turned out that the shape of her nose not unusual but slightly flat meant it appeared she was squinting but was fine, her twin brother who i believed had fine eyesight had a latent squint. It was brilliant as he then received treatment early patching and no hassle at school as they sometimes do get, to correct it, so I always advocate going as early as you can. Contacts for a teen, I am not sure, I would tend to not be disagreeable to it, if needs must ie, dependant on the maturity of the teen, if they have a physical hobby or sport and how they feel about glasses wearing.

My twins had their first eye test at 3.4. DS passed, DD didn't. She was nervous and hesitant with all her answers so was referred for the drop test where we were advised that she was fine. She has had quarterly tests since where her results have improved each time as she has become more confident with the optician. She's now five.

I think the first test was too early for her and that the drops/follow up tests could have been avoided if the initial test had been six months later.

My little boy had his eyes tested a few months after being born as he was developing a squint, but I haven't felt the need to take him since (he's now 2). I'll probably take him in another year when he's 3. He loves wearing sunglasses though (mainly round the house!)

Thanks for all the comments
This thread is now closed and the winner of the £250 voucher is AnonymousBird - thanks and congrats