Testing your child’s eyesight

Post on 4th March 2016

School days are said to be the best of our lives but that’s not likely to be the case if your child’s learning is hampered by a sight problem.

And because they may be unaware they have a problem it is important to test their eyes on a regular basis.  Eye tests are able to detect issues as soon as they arise – this will then allow you to tackle them in the correct way and ideally, eliminate any further optical problems.

Common Problems for Children

It’s suggested by experts that a child’s eyesight should be tested at least every two years in order to detect problems sooner rather than later. It may also prevent learning and behavioural issues in the classroom which can often occur if they find it difficult to explain the struggles they may be experiencing.

Common problems that can occur in children are:

• Amblyopia (lazy eye)
• Squint
• Short-sightedness
• Long-sightedness
• Retinoblastoma
• Astigmatism

What do I Look Out for?

It can be challenging to monitor your child’s eyes when they spend a lot of time in school, however if you keep a close watch, they may show some obvious signs. You may find your little one has to sit close to the TV when they watch it, or even squint in order to see the screen clearly. If they hold a book close to their face and have trouble reading, this may also be an indication they have a vision issue. Your child could also struggling with homework or complaining about tired eyes and headaches, in which case it might be time to check their sight.

How Scrivens Opticians can Help

Luckily, if you catch any issues early the problem will be easier to treat – at Scrivens Opticians we make the eye test process as simple as possible and our expert Optometrists are on hand to help. Find your nearest branch here and book in for a child friendly eye test today.