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 would think about 4 or 5 when formal schooling starts might be the best time, unless a problem existed. How do they test children who can't read the chart? Cleanliness is an important part of using contact lenses so I think that would have to be a factor. I guess it more depends on the maturity of a child rather than an age.

Wow 3 seems really young for an eye tesdt but the reasons make sense. I'm trying to imagine mine tolerating an eye test but she's still 2.
As for kids wearing contacts I'd want to see evidence of no long term effects. They also need to be responsible enough to do all the eye care properly, eg cleaning lenses, removing at night, not wearing for too long, to avoid eye infections so it's a judgement call.

I don't think there is a best age. If your child is showing that they may be having issues with their sight bring them for a test. For general eyetest 3-4 years. I've been wearing glasses since I was 2 years old.

My two children have had their sight tested at school so would of left it at that. My 9 year old has recently had problems with reoccuring headaches so to eliminate any issues with his eyesight we took him to specsavers and got him tested. It turns out his eyesight is fine and still going through the GP regarding his headaches.

I would recommend getting it done earlier if needed and it's great that Specsavers offer this at such a young age. They were to helpful and professional I wouldn't hesitate recommending them or using them again

Wouldn't want DC to wear contacts until at least 16. I myself started wearing contact lens at 16 (just after starting college), and I remember the hassle I went through cleaning them every night, the protein removal process every week, not being able to wear them during the sterilisation period. And the late night studying (+ lack of sleep) used to lead to itchy eyes in the morning - but I couldn't rub my eyes due the contacts being in. I can't imagine our DC being very disciplined with this. I've seen many kids, hands grubby from football or whatever, rubbing their eyes until tears were streaming down.
The quality of contact lens have improved nowadays, but still, I think the risks are very high for young children.
And 'shades' in the summer is no problem - they think it's cool (they can act like Hawkeye, the Terminator, the Rock, Neo, etc.)

:)

I wouldn't let my kids wear contact lenses early, I've got mine at 18 and I'm thankful that my mum didn't let me get them any earlier.

My son had a lazy eye that only got picked up at a school medical when he was 5. I had not even thought to take him to the optician before that . I had never missed a vaccination and had taken him to the dentist for example as soon as his milk teeth started coming down but it hadn't even occurred to me that it was important to get an early eye test. Happily the lazy eye was largely corrected through his wearing an eye patch and now he just has glasses but I know now that the earlier these things are identified the more easily they can be corrected. I really think parents should be encouraged to get their children's eyes tested as soon as it is practical.

My DD has been wearing glasses from the age of 2. She is so desperate for contacts, but we have said not until year 9.

My son has been wearing sunglasses as soon as he was out and about in the sun, they do some fab designs for really young children that wrap around the head so less likely to fall off.
He's four and yet to have an eye test but I'm thinking I will take him when hes about 5. I had bad eyesight from a really young age but it wasn't picked up on, it really hindered my progress in school as I couldn't see what the teacher was writing on the black board. It didn't occur to me to wonder why other people had no problem reading it but I couldn't, I really wish I'd had my glasses a lot sooner.

I keep meaning to take DS (4) for his first eye test - he's at preschool at the moment so I haven't felt it to be urgent, but I think it's a good health check up as well as making sure their vision fine. Worried he'll find it scary so I plan to let him come along to mine first.

I wouldn't have any issues with him wearing contacts if he felt comfortable using them.

Oh and he loves wearing sunglasses, he thinks he looks cool

My DS1 had his first eye test at 3 but my DS2 has divergent squints in both eyes so he had his first eye test at around the age of 2. I don't think it would be a good idea to leave an eye test any later than 3. Lots of problems can be caused by uncorrected poor eyesight.

I didn't know that contacts can be worn from the age of 10. My DS2 is 10 next month and I think it would be a great idea for him to have contacts because glasses can be a nuisance at times, particularly for sports.

Because of DS2's divergent squints he finds it really difficult to keep light out of his eyes because his range of vision is so wide. We opted some time ago for him to have lenses which react to light and they're great. Saves messing around with two pairs of glasses and our optician told us that nearly all of UV damage to eyes is done by the age of 18 so it's a great comfort to know his eyes are protected. It's amazing how dark the glasses go even on grey days too which shows just how much UV there is even when the weather is rubbish. Since finding out about this, I also encourage DS1 to wear sunglasses but it's a bit trickier to enforce as he doesn't need a prescription and he's old enough to know his own mind.

None of us wear glasses, but we have all had our sight tested. I took both kids at about age 5. We all wear sunglasses, but the kids take them off when they are running around. When they were toddlers I got them some of those ones that have the elastic instead of hard arms that go over the ears; they stayed on pretty well. I think they should invent sunglasses which are really flexible and damage proof with an elastic fitting. When we went to Lapland we wore skiing goggles that are more like that and so I am sure there could be a new type of sunglasses that: really cut out the light, protect the eyes better are safe for running around, are comfortable and look cool. Its not asking too much is it?

ooo how about sun contacts?? or has someone invented them already?

Sun contacts would be a pain every time you went inside or the sun went behind a cloud.

I don't think a child can be too young to take an eye test, but guess it helps when they can comprehend and interact. My little one rally likes the idea of wearing glasses, although she doesn't need them. If she did I would encourage her to wear glasses rather than contact lenses, as I remember those at school who would loose theirs on the playing fields & the like and we'd end up trying (metaphorically) to look for a needle in a haystack.

My child had his first eye test aged 2. I wouldn't allow him to wear contacts until he was able to use them independently, so when in high school I would say

Son was around 3 when he had his first eye test. If there seems to be a problem get it sorted straight away.

I'd wait until teens for contacts, but will definitely buy sunglasses.

My two have had their sight monitored from the beginning because their dad was born with a squint. Luckily they're both OK but since we're both short sighted, we're keeping a watchful eye (pardon the pun) and will be taking them every two years for a check up. I started wearing glasses around 11 but I'm hoping the myopia gene bypasses them. Happily the stigma about wearing glasses I remember (black NHS specs anyone?) seems to be long gone. Both their dad and I also wear contact lenses so they are both used to sight correction being a part of our everyday lives! Laser eye surgery on the other hand is something I would avoid at all costs.

We liven in Cape Town. My son had an eye test last week at his nursery school. He is 4 and I didn't know it was happening until he told me on the way home that 'a lady with white hair looked at his eyes'. The next day I was given the feedback form and suggested exercises to help with 'convergence'. I have to say I was impressed it happened and am grateful as i hadn't even thought I shoukd check!

I took my youngest before he knew his letter names at the age of 3 and the optician said he had really bad sight. Being referred on to the hospital after this showed there was nothing wrong with his sight after all. All that worry for nothing. I would definitely disagree with the above unless as a parent you feel something is wrong.

I'm feeling pretty pleased with myself as my daughter had her first eye test at three, largely because I wear glasses so wanted to catch any problems early, and I protected her eyes with sunglasses from birth as there were so many fun designs of sunglasses on the market. Thankfully she has 20/20 vision but I'd never have let her use contact lenses until probably 15/16 because fear she'd not have taken the hygiene regime too seriously.

I think around the age of 3/4 unless there are any significant factors which would deem an earlier eye test

My children have both had eye tests from the age of 3. Both have worn glasses from the age of 10. My eldest has daily disposable contacts and has done since the age of 14. He was determined to get the insertion and removal right and looks after this himself with no intervention from us. My youngest DS is 12 and has been offered contact lenses but says he does not want them. I am confident he would be able to cope with them if he had them.
One thing I found difficult with respect to glasses was that the children at age 10 had small heads - heads that were too small for adult frames yet all the children's frames seemed 'babyish' to them with footballs or animals on etc. In the end the optician ordered in some more sophisticated children's frames for them to look at (and I think sent them back after we had choosen)

I took my daughter when she was six. I need to start taking mine regularly as both my partner and I needed glasses.