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'm not sure of the age to be honest. ds has been having eye tests since he was 4 and hasn't needed glasses. He seems quite disappointed about this

I think as soon as possible. My youngest had an eye test when he was 4 or 5 as well as a hearing test. It's pretty important to know if anything is wrong as soon as possible.

I don't know when the correct age should be but pretty early just to be sure that everything is okay.

I think the first eye test should be when your child is about 2 (or earlier if recommended)

With regards to contact lenses...possibly 16 is a good age.

I think school age is the right time for a child to be tested for glasses, however I think sunglasses should be worn as early as possible as the sun can be very damaging to the eye

My children are 8 and 10, they both had their first eye test at the age of 4, just before they started primary school. I hadn't heard any advice that it should be sooner. I noticed the posters publicising eye tests for children in my opticians - this is what prompted me to sort out their first appointments, otherwise I probably would have left it another year or two.
They have been having regular eye checks, as recommended by the optician ever since then.
So far, they haven't needed glasses.
They wore sunglasses from the age of about 2, I think we tried earlier, but they wouldn't keep them on.
I think I would let them wear contacts occasionally,(from the age of about 12) so the daily disposables would be best for them. I wouldn't want them to wear them every day, all day, as I'd be worried about problems caused by wearing them for too long.

My youngest daughter who is nearly 4 had her first eye test at 2 because she had an alternating squint. She has quite a high prescription and has prescription goggles for swimming.

In terms of sunglasses, I didn't really want to be chopping and changing between sunglasses and normal glasses with her at such a young age, so last year when I enquired about sunglasses, the hospital suggested photosensitive lenses. The cost was about £40 more than the normal free prescription and as I would have had to pay for the sunglasses anyway worked out fine. They have been a godsend as she just wears the same pair all the time - although my husband says she looks like Roy Orbison!!

In terms of contacts I would be keen for her to wear them for sport when she's older, one of the 7/8 year olds in her school does and her mother says she is fine with using them.

Both my children have had regular eye tests from age 4, before starting school. I have no concerns about their eye sight, and neither does the optician, but I am terribly short sighted and fear they will inherit this!

I wore contact lenses from 18, once I could pay for them myself, I would have been delighted to have them earlier as I was teased at school for wearing glasses - I don't know if the same stigma is attached to wearing specs nowadays but I would be happy for my children to wear them from 10, assuming I believed they would be au fait with the cleaning regime.

Both wear sunglasses on sunny days (I wear mine all year round!) with UVA and UVB protection and a peaked hat. My daughter loves sunglasses and has an extensive collection!

I wouldn't even let my teen wear contacts as he cannot yet be relied upon to wash his hair properly or clean his teeth well ! He'd have an eye infection within 48 hours of starting to wear them! But when he takes control of his personal hygiene then yes he can consider having contacts!

Have had our DCs' eyes tested religiously since they were three years old. Extreme myopia runs in my family, so been very keen to keep a close eye on their eyesight. DS started wearing glasses at 9 and DD so far doesn't need them.

Our two have never been keen on sunglasses...

Both my daughters have been having eye tests since they were 2ish. Neither of them need glasses but, as someone who wears glasses myself, I do see it like going to the dentist. We go to a friend of the family and he is brilliant with them. They really look forward to going.

They both have sunglasses with UV protection, not prescription obviously. They wear them because they choose to. Not because they are told too.

I didn't get glasses until I was 15 and I tried contacts at about 17. But they seemed like too much work so I soon went back to glasses. If my DDs need glasses and want to try contacts then I don't have an issue with it. But only once I feel I can trust them to care for them themselves.

My son failed his check with the optometrist today and we're now in a 3-month wait for referral and patching (and probably glasses).

I'm pissed off because the eye hospital only discharged him a few weeks ago after deciding they didn't need to follow up previous issues raised (despite saying he would need regular checks for a few years).

At least glasses and patches are much funkier now than they were when I was little

I took my children for eye tests when they were about 4 and go for a yearly check up. Neither need glasses. However, my son is 12 and if he needed them I would let him wear contact lenses, as he is involved in a lot of sport activities.
Although it is difficult to keep sunglasses on children, mine have always had them from a young age. Now they are older they like wearing them. :)

My boys were always happy to wear sunglasses as they got to be like Daddy. Now, not so much alas.

First eye tests just before they started school. Good gob as DS2 has astigmatism in one eye so needed glasses. Specsavers do some Star Wars solid frames, which are way better than the ones with metal arms that keep breaking. If only there was a little more variety.

I don't really want my kids poking around in their eyes with contact lenses. I didn't start wearing contacts until I was about 22. I suppose it depends on how serious the prescription and whether factors like sport make it a good idea.

Completely depends on how mature the child is. I'd advise a basic eye test as soon as possible then follow if further tests are needed. Pardon the pun but I don't think one can be prescriptive, it should be offered if a parent would like it.

Children should wear sunglasses as soon as they will keep them on. Never found an easy way to achieve this!

We took them for sight tests from age 5-6. Would have taken them earlier if we had had any concerns.

My dc have all had glasses for 'concentrating work'. They have loved them and were pleased to have glasses. After all, Mummy and Daddy both wear glasses!

If my dc needed a high prescription and wanted contacts, I would allow this from any age - as long as they were able to take responsibility, supervised if necessary, for the hygiene routine. Anywhere between 8-12 for my various dc.

My son started to wear glasses last yer. To my relief, his eyes are getting better and he doesn't need them as much now. I had perfect eye sight until i fell pregnant with him. My eyes are getting worse each year and i am considering laser surgery. I am glad his eyes are getting better and i restrict him from tv and computers much more now

My daughter had her eyes tested ages 3 and needed glasses right away. You can get cute prescription sunglasses now but I dont think theres a need for little kids to wear contact lenses.

My daughter is 6 and has never had an eye test, she seems to have brilliant vision (often test her on things far away) but I know that one day she'll probably end up with glasses since EVERYONE in her family has them ! Don't think it's ever too young if you've got concerns though.

I haven't taken my 3 year old for an eye test yet but it is on my to do list now.
With sunglasses we have bought a new pair each summer that she has picked out herself. She has always loved wearing them from really young, which makes it easy for us.

Son had eye test at 3 due to various problems he was having but wished he could have had one sooner due to finding out he had very poor vision which was affecting him.
Not many places allow children to have eye tests before school age and if it wasn't for the fact he was being assessed for autism we would have never have known till later on when he was 5/6 that he has severe problems.

I think the age should be 2 to catch any poor eyesight early.
I was shocked I never noticed that my son had poor eyesight and apparently it is common as the child gets by or manages someway.

There isn't enough sports eye wear out there as my son needs prescription swimming googgles but they only do adult size and up to a certain strength. id like my son to wear contacts if he wants maybe when he is around 12

Our kids had their eyes tested at about 2, as I wear glasses and have a stigmatism, I think once they have shown some maturity and can look after their glasses I might consider letting them have lenses, but neither of them has asked yet anyway. They wear sunglasses, when we wear them, so do they.

I can't get mine to wear a hat nevermind blooming sunglasses!

I think eye tests are very important, and not just for sight. Other serious health problems can be picked up. Age 3 seems about right to me. I think it would be quite hard to get a child younger than that to sit still for long enough!
Sunglasses are tricky...letting them choose ones they like is perhaps the most likely way to encourage them to wear them. And positive reinforcement; ie praising them or rewarding for wearing them is another way.

I'm not sure about contact lenses for pre teens. I have a preception that they are a bit tricky to wear ( although I may be wrong) . In which case I'd be concerned that a child that young would cope with them.

Ive put sunglasses on both my dc since they were babies... probably around 7-8 months for both, as both were later autumn / early winter babies. My DS had his eyes tested for the first time at around 14 months by an opthalmologist at the hospital, we were referred as we found out he probably has a genetic condition which is associated with an increased risk of optic nerve tumours. DD is 3 1/2 and hasnt had her vision checked yet, i probably should book her in at the opticians.

Our daughter desperately wanted to wear glasses from age 3 and co-operated well with the tests. Sadly for her, she didn't need them until a teenager!