Your child’s eye health is, of course, an important indicator of their overall health. But even if there are no concerns, regular eye examination help ensure your child has no vision problems that could affect their school performance and enjoyment of life.
Early eye tests are important for several reasons. Firstly they check the visual skills that are essential for optimal learning are in place – a child who is unable to see what’s on the whiteboard can become easily frustrated. Plus as children’s eyes are fully developed by the time they are 8-years-old, any problems must be detected before then. By making eye checks part of normal life from a young age it’s more likely your child will continue to have their eyes tested regularly throughout adulthood.
My child can’t read yet – how can you check their eyesight?
You don’t have to wait for your child to be able to read to bring them in for an examination. At Patrick & Menzies we have ways of testing that can be used with preschool children who cannot read. Even if you have no real concerns, we usually advise to bring them in for a full eye test before they start school just to make sure there aren’t any issues with their vision that could affect their early learning.
What should I be concerned about?
Once children start school it can be easier to spot the signs of a possible eye problem. If you notice any of the following, pop in and schedule an examination with us:
- Squinting
- Complaining of headaches or sore or achy eyes
- Holding books close to their face or sitting too close to the TV
- Problems with hand-eye co-ordination – being unusually clumsy
- Regularly rubbing their eyes
- Complaining that they can’t see the board at school.
What can I expect at the appointment?
We’ll be able to work best with your child when they’re happy and alert. For younger children an appointment straight after school when they’re tired and hungry may not work best. Generally an eye examination can actually be quite fun and interesting for a child. We have lots of different ways to check how well your child sees at different distances, but we’ll also check their eye movement, the back of the eye and how well they respond to light, amongst other things. Our optometrists are experienced in making it a pleasant experience for your child while putting your mind at rest.
Should your child need glasses we have an excellent range and are sure to have a style that will appeal, so do give us a ring or pop in to book your child’s appointment – that’s another thing you can tick off the ‘back to school’ to-do list!