Do you know the tell tale signs that your child needs an eye test?
Although there are some indicators to look out for, often it can be hard for a parent or carer to spot, particularly if your child is very young.
Masking the issue
Patrick & Menzies Partner and Dispensing Optician Dan Edwards explained: “Children’s visual systems are very good at masking problems. Often the child will learn to adapt to issues they have with their vision.
“Frequently a child can have a problem with one or both eyes and it won’t manifest itself in noticeable symptoms. I’ve had several parents through the years who have brought their child for what they thought was a routine eye test to find there’s a problem they had no idea about. They feel terrible. But there is no way they could have had any idea because very often there are no obvious signs.
“This makes it vital that much like you take your child to the dentist regularly you also go to the optician. This allows any issues to be picked up early.”
What to look out for
Although signs or symptoms can be sparse, there are a few behaviours that could point to potential issues with vision.
Dan explained: “Regular headaches, tired eyes, a short attention span at school, or the child sitting closer to the TV than you would like can all indicate the child has an issue with their vision.
“Very often these signs amount to nothing and it’s just a habit the child has formed such as blinking or rubbing their eyes. But it’s best to get it looked at sooner rather than later.
“Sometimes one eye will appear as if it is squinting or turning. If you think that’s the case, book an appointment with an optician. Although it’s very often nothing to worry about, it is still something that should be checked.”
Free NHS check-ups
Under the NHS, yearly eye tests are free for under 16s. They can take place more frequently if the optician identifies an issue.
If you are concerned about your child’s vision, get in touch to book an appointment, even if you are not due to be seen again for a number of months.
Keen to find out what happens at a child’s eye test? Check out our blog!