Children’s Eye Care

Aengus Morrin, Senior Optometrist from Specsavers, Newbridge shares his views from his 15 years experience providing children’s eye care.

One out of every four children has an undetected vision problem that may inhibit their progress. There are a number of tell-tale signs you can look out for, for example: is your child sitting too close to the TV; do they rub their eyes repeatedly; are they clumsy; do they squint? Many parents are unsure about how best to provide eyecare for their child.  Here are four of the most common misconceptions I have encountered about children’s eye-care.

Glasses weaken your eyes. (Not true):

Our eyesight develops from when we are born through to about eight years of age. During this time in order for eyesight to develop fully we need to have clearly focused retinal images in each eye with both eyes straight. If these conditions are not met, a lazy eye(s) may occur.  Spectacles help to maintain a clear focus in the eye and are one of the possible treatments for a lazy eye, which should be treated as early as possible (before the age of eight). Contrary to popular belief, spectacles, when necessary, can stimulate and improve children’s vision.

Children need to be able to read to have their eyes tested. (Not true):

Eye care practitioners have various methods for assessing a child’s eyesight e.g. pictures, shapes etc can be used with children as young as two and a half years of age. A child’s prescription can be determined with the use of a torch like instrument known as a retinoscope. Interestingly a child’s eye- sight is almost fully developed by the time they are able to read confidently.

Parents can tell if their child has an eyesight problem. (Not true):

Parents are often very surprised and upset to find during the eye examination that their child has difficulties seeing, particularly when the child hasn’t complained of any problems. In the case of a lazy eye, the good eye is doing the work so the parent has no way of assessing the child’s vision.

The school test is a full eye examination. (Not true):

The school test is a simple but important screening test to assess distance vision. Children who fail the test are sent for a full eye examination so make sure your child attends their test.

It is strongly recommended that families with a history of a lazy eye or where one of the family members eg. Parents, brothers, cousins had to wear glasses as a young child should seek to have a full eye examination for their young children performed by an eye care practitioner.

At Specsavers Newbridge we recommend that children have their first eye examination around 4 years of age but younger if the parent notices a problem.  Although many opticians are happy to see young children privately, in most cases young children are seen through the Health board and are tested for free by Ophthalmologists (Medical Eye specialists) and a voucher, where necessary, is issued to the parent towards the cost of glasses. Contact your local doctor’s surgery or community nurse for more details on how to access eyecare for your child.

Useful websites for Ireland are www.specsavers.ie or www.optometrists.ie

Useful websites for Ireland are www.specsavers.co.uk or www.optometrists.org