Do you have questions about children’s eye health? Ask Specsavers expert - £200 voucher to be won

[BellaMumsnet]

Whether you’re wondering when to schedule your child’s first eye test or have concerns about the effects of screen time on their eyes, Specsavers senior optician Maria McAllister is here to provide expert guidance.

• Everyone who shares a questions on the thread below by the 25th August 2024 will be entered into a prize draw
• One lucky Mumsnet user will win a £200 voucher for a store of their choice
• Maria will be back on the week of the 26th August 2024 to answer some of your questions

About Maria McAllister, BA BSc (Hons) MCOptom, Specsavers Lead Clinical Performance Consultant: “Maria graduated from the University of Ulster in 2009 with a BSc in Optometry and completed her pre-registration at Specsavers Montrose. She then served as a resident optometrist and practice manager at Duncan and Todd Optician, becoming retail director by 2017, overseeing professional services, hearing care, and retail departments. Maria joined Specsavers in 2021 in the clinical performance team. Driven by a passion for supporting and engaging people, Maria also pursued a BA in Business Management and is currently completing an MSc in counselling and psychotherapy.”

Here’s what Maria has to say:
‘Your child’s eyes are special. In the early years, vision helps them find out about the world around them, about their home, about you. Later, as they go through school, their eyesight lets them learn and discover — in fact, about 80% of what is taught in schools is presented visually. Being able to see clearly is therefore incredibly important in your child’s overall development. Here at Specsavers we take your child’s eyesight seriously, so I'm looking forward to answering your questions.'

Thanks and good luck!
MNHQ

Insight Terms and Conditions apply

Hello, at what age should a child begin to have their eyes tested?

From what age can children wear contact lenses? My child wears glasses but plays a lot of sport and we're thinking contacts may be the way forward... (unless there are other options??). Thank you.

Hi everyone, thanks for sharing such a variety of questions, I hope that you find my answers helpful.

Hi @Wallasey123 we know digital devices such as laptops and tablets are important tools for education, giving children access to endless amounts of information and resources. But if your kids are using screens for long periods of time without taking consistent breaks, it could impact their eyes, causing eye strain, soreness and may even contribute to the development of myopia, or as we refer to it, short-sightedness. Symptoms to look out for in your children include discomfort in the eyes, headaches, sore or tired eyes, difficulty focusing, dry eyes, blurred or double vision, and increased sensitivity to light.

Hi @JacCharlton, you probably would not be able to tell if your baby is long or shortsighted, unless they are very long sighted in which cases one of their eyes can turn in. If you have no particular concerns about your child’s vision then it’s generally fine to wait and take them for an examination when they’re a little older, we recommend around three-and-a-half years old.

Hi @DinkyDaffodil there’s no ‘official’ age to start wearing contact lenses – it all depends on your child’s ability to use and look after their lenses. Children are quick learners and have proven to be just as capable of wearing lenses as adults – but we’d recommend that a parent or guardian should supervise them to start with. Book an appointment for your child to see an optician for a contact lens assessment. They’ll decide whether they’d be a good fit and recommend the best lens type for them.

Hi @ohdannyboy - it's quite common for children to hold books very close when reading, they have super strong eye muscles which allow them to see clearly at this distance. It won’t damage their eyes but there is a school of thought that prolonged close work can potentially increase the risk of short sightedness, so try and encourage them to hold it further away if you can.

Hi @LittleDeeAndME - both long and short sight can be inherited, if both you and your husband both had the same type of prescription then the likelihood of your child following would be higher. Long sight will usually be present by about the age of five, short sight usually a bit later so best to have their eyes examined regularly.

Hi @purplepandas, there are a number of adjustments that can be made to make the process more comfortable for young children or those with any additional needs. It can sometimes help to bring the child in for a “familiarisation” visit prior to the day of the sight test itself. They can meet their optometrist, be allowed to spend some time in the consulting room etc. Extra time can be allotted and, if necessary, the child’s examination could be scheduled over more than one visit. Please call your local store to discuss.

Hi @Ilostmyhalo, unfortunately, Specsavers are unable to visit schools to perform eye examinations.

Hello @DenDenDenise - we recommend that your child has their eyes tested before they go into full-time education, at around three-and-a-half years. It also means that any problems that they may have, are identified early, setting them up for a happy and fulfilling school life.

Hello @LittleDeeAndME, thanks for your question. It is common for a child’s blink rate to reduce when they are concentrating on a screen. This could result in some eye strain or mild discomfort but nothing more serious.

Hi @PaintMeARiver, iIf your child is experiencing only mild discomfort then lubricating the affected eye with some lubricating drops from a chemist is a good place to start. If there is something that you can see, like an eyelash, then you might feel comfortable trying to remove in yourself, maybe with a cotton bud. If the symptoms persist or if your child is in pain then best to visit your optometrist or a medical practitioner.

Hi @CharismaticMegafauna, thanks for your question. If your child is complaining about short‑sightedness, headaches, eye strain, or even feeling tired, then they may have myopia. Myopia happens when the condition gets worse rapidly and this affects young children in particular, so it’s important to start myopia management treatment as soon as possible. If you are concerned about myopia, then the best step is to take your child for an eye test. Children can be tested at any age, even if they can’t read or talk yet. Children can use 'myopia management' techniques to help control their condition and this involves using specialist contact lenses or glasses lenses designed to minimise progression. We offer myopia management glasses lenses or contact lenses, but your local optician will talk you through both options and help you to pick the best one for your child. Alongside glasses or contact lenses, other ways to help manage myopia include:

• Encourage them to spend at least two hours outdoors daily.
• Limit screen time.
• Take breaks from close‑up tasks.
• Ensure they get a good night's sleep.

Hello @lillypopdaisyduke - thanks for your question. You could try fitting a sport band to the glasses. Speak to your local store who will be able to advise you.

Hi @DanBenandBud. Absolutely, if it would make you more comfortable you could ask your optometrist to wear a mask. Please speak to your local store.

Hi @ketchuporbrownsauce. Prescriptions for long sight tend to be quite stable for a number of years while short sight prescription usually require an update every year or so.

Hi @chickenpotnoodle, no there is no evidence that a poor diet in childhood will impact eye health.

Hi @ButterOllocks - this test is usually only performed on over 35s. Very rarely on children.

Hi @Cuwins, most very young children have their eyesight assessed as part of routine developmental checks. While these are very important, they aren’t as thorough as a complete eye test by a qualified optician. So we recommend that your child has their eyes tested before they go into full-time education, around three-and-a-half years. It also means that any problems that they may have, are identified early, setting them up for a happy and fulfilling school life.

Hello @TonsleyB - good question. For children, we recommend ideally once a year, because eye tests not only check changes in our vision, but also the overall health of our eyes. This means if your child has any problems with their eyes, our opticians can pick it up and help sort treatment sooner.

Hi @DenDenDenise - it's a really good question. We know that eye tests can be a little overwhelming for some children — especially if it’s their first time. That’s why we try and make the process as enjoyable and child friendly as possible. We are currently in the process of working with young children to design some friendly 'optomonsters' to make a visit to the opticians more fun, so please keep an eye out on our social channels for more information.

Hello @Lighter22 - most very young children have their eyesight assessed as part of routine developmental checks. While these are very important, they aren’t as thorough as a complete eye test by a qualified optician. So we recommend that your child has their eyes tested before they go into full-time education, around three-and-a-half years. It also means that any problems that they may have, are identified early, setting them up for a happy and fulfilling school life. Please call your local Specsavers store who can advise you on booking an appointment for your twins.

Hi @Gingerkittykat, most very young children have their eyesight assessed as part of routine developmental checks. While these are very important, they aren’t as thorough as a complete eye test by a qualified optician. So we recommend that your child has their eyes tested before they go into full-time education, around three-and-a-half years. It also means that any problems that they may have, are identified early, setting them up for a happy and fulfilling school life. Please call your local Specsavers store who can advise you on booking an appointment for your twins.

Hi @Mymanyellow, thanks for your question. Yes, he might need glasses to prevent a lazy eye developing.