When should children have an eye test?
Wondering whether your child can see properly or if they should have an eye test before you send them to school? Here's everything you need to know about kids' eye tests, with expert advice on when to book one, how to notice if there's a problem and what you can do to support good eye health.
You've probably gazed into your child's eyes adoringly a million times since they were born, but have you ever wondered what they're seeing back? Your loving face in crystal clear definition or a much blurrier version that they've just come to think of as normal?
Spotting the signs of bad eyesight in young kids isn't as easy as you might think. Many children don't even realise their vision is bad or simply don't have the words to explain what they're seeing (or not!). But with shortsightedness on the rise – 1 in 5 children in the UK now suffer from an eye condition and an estimated 1.6 million are living with an undetected eye problem1 – it's something that's important to sort before it becomes a bigger issue.
If you haven't been to an optician with your child before the age of 4, starting school is often the time when you might start to wonder if your child will be able to see the board or the words in the book that they're learning to read.
“Eyesight is a crucial part of a child’s development and vision problems can have a real knock-on effect on their social, academic and physical development, as well as leading to further issues with their sight," says Mark Shelton, Optometrist at Bayfields Opticians and Audiologists. "So, it’s important to be aware of the signs that your child may need some extra help and know how to get your children’s eyesight back on track.”
Here's everything you need to know about childhood eye tests, from when they should happen to what you can do to help keep your child's eyes healthy...
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When should you get your child's eyes tested?
All newborn babies' eyes are checked soon after birth (within 72 hours) by a doctor or specially trained midwife as part of the newborn physical examination. This test involves having a light shone in the eyes to check for a red reflex, which confirms there are no cataracts and that all is normal. This examination will be done again at around 6 - 8 weeks to check nothing was missed at birth.2
After this point there are no compulsory eye examinations for children, although you will be asked if you have any concerns about your child's eyesight at their developmental reviews at the age of 1 or between 2 and 2.5 years of age and, if you do, an eye test will be arranged.
The next time your child's eyes might be checked is at the age of 4/ 5 when they start school as part of a vision screening programme. However, this does not happen in all schools or areas across the UK, so it's a bit of a lottery depending on where you live. In Scotland, there's a pre-school orthoptic vision screening programme for children registered with a GP in all NHS Scotland health boards.
If your child doesn't have this screening, parents are advised to book an appointment themselves and after this test, in an ideal world, children should see an optician every two years, unless you notice a problem beforehand.
“Eye examinations are available for free on the NHS for under-16s or anyone aged between 16 and 18 and in full-time education," says Mark.
"Trained optometrists will examine overall eye health, as well as vision. The College of Optometrists recommends children have their eyes tested regularly from three years old. For children aged 4 to 5, there may be a vision screening available at their school, but this only checks for some common vision problems.
“If a vision screening is not available in your local area, you can take them to see your local optometrist for a sight test, where a detailed eye examination can pick up vision or eye health problems.”
What are the signs your child might need glasses?
They're squinting
An early and often easy-to-spot sign in children with poor eyesight is squinting, although in summer it can be harder to notice due to bright sunshine also making kids squint.
“Squinting or rubbing the eyes is a classic sign of visual impairment, as people do this to reduce the amount of light entering the eyes and improve focus, and our children are no different," says Mark. "If you notice your child doing this as they are trying to focus on an object, whether in the distance or up close when reading a book for example, it could be a sign they need glasses.”
They're sitting close to screens and holding reading books close
Have you noticed that your child is constantly dragging a chair closer to the TV screen or holding a tablet right up to their face? When they're reading or looking at books are they holding it a bit closer than you'd consider necessary? "This could indicate vision problems such as myopia, otherwise known as short-sightedness," says Mark.
"This condition leads to children having difficulty seeing things far away, so they get as close as possible when trying to concentrate on a screen and books, to counteract this. Sometimes children might even purposefully close one eye when trying to read. Over the longer term, this can lead to eye strain and cause vision to deteriorate further.”
They're having problems at school
Has your little maths genius suddenly gone down a school set? Or is your primary school child starting to stumble over their previously impressive reading? “A change in the condition of young eyes can affect other things, too," says Mark.
"For example, there might be a sudden change in their academic performance at school, they might demonstrate confusion when doing certain activities or show a lack of focus when you’re interacting with them. Additionally, they might be unusually clumsy or struggle with hand-eye coordination.” It's important to speak to the school and ask if they've got any concerns, as often teachers are the first to notice eye problems in kids.
They're complaining of headaches
“Children who struggle to focus their vision can suffer from eye strain which manifests in headaches," says Mark. "While there can be a number of reasons a child complains of a sore head, stay vigilant for headaches which can occur when they have been doing tasks which rely on focusing visually, such as reading a book.”
How to look after your child’s eyesight
Get them outdoors
“Studies show that spending even just a couple of hours a day outside can reduce the likelihood of children developing myopia," says Mark. "It can also stop further deterioration of the eyes. The more natural light helps eyes to develop properly, as well as getting them away from close-up activities like screens and reading which are more common indoors.”
Reduce screen time
We all know that too much screen time isn't good for our kids in terms of behaviour and their social development, but have you ever considered that it could be negatively affecting their eyesight too? “The summer holiday childcare juggle is challenging for many parents and can result in more screen time," says Mark.
"But spending a lot of time looking at digital screens has a real toll on our eyes, as well as increasing the risk of developing myopia. The likelihood of developing this condition is 3.5 times greater when children spend seven hours or more on screens so it’s important to manage daily screen time over the holidays.”
Encourage them to eat a balanced diet
In an ideal world, we'd all have our children munching on broccoli and kale every night, but we get that it's not that easy. However, a child's diet can affect their eyesight so persevering with the fruit, veg and protein is worth it.
“Getting your child to eat a healthy balanced diet can be challenging, but it’s good to be aware of the foods which contribute to good eye health, such as fruit, vegetables and fish – and incorporate them into your child’s meals where possible,” says Mark.
Arrange an eye exam
The most important way you can help your child if you're concerned about their eyesight is to take them to see an expert. “Should you have any concerns about your child’s vision it’s important to see an optometrist to prevent any further deterioration or wider impact on your child’s health, wellbeing and development," says Mark.
Pics: Getty Images
References:
1. 1.6 million school-aged children are estimated to be living with an undetected vision problem, visionmatters.org.uk
2. Eye tests for children, NHS online
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