CARING FOR YOUNG EYES



Did you know?


One in five school children has an undetected eye problem.

80% of a child’s learning occurs visually. So if children have poor vision, they’ll find it difficult to learn at school and reach their full potential. Nor will they enjoy everyday childhood activities as much as they could.

Without early treatment, vision defects such as ‘lazy eye’ can become permanent disabilities.

Regular eye examinations could be crucial for your child’s healthcare and personal development.




Good eyesight is every child’s passport to the future. Yet it is easy for parents to think there’s nothing wrong with their child’s sight, not realising that vision can change rapidly as young eyes develop. Also some children may not recognise they have a visual problem.



That’s why annual eye examinations for children are recommended. Of course, if you suspect that something is wrong with your child’s eyesight, you should make an appointment with us as soon as possible.



The NHS provides free sight tests for all children, so it will cost you nothing to have their eyes examined. And if your child does need glasses, you’ll receive a contribution towards the cost and be able to choose from a wide range of spectacles specially designed for children’s faces.



POOR VISION WARNING SIGNS


Excessive blinking

Squinting

Peering closely at books and TV

Bumping into objects

Poor performance at school



Even very young children should have their eyes tested, especially if there is a family history of lazy eye, squint or needing glasses with a very strong prescription. That way any problems can be discovered well before school starts. A large proportion of squints, for example, develop before the age of three.


It doesn’t matter if your child is too young to talk or read a letter chart. Our optometrist can use a range of techniques and modern equipment to detect visual problems at any age. You are also encouraged to take part in the eye test and ask any questions about your child’s vision.



You’ll find that our practice offers a wide range of attractive styles specially designed for young faces. Many frames have soft nose pads for extra comfort and sprung hinges to stand up to the rough and tumble of everyday life.




Children and teenagers must feel comfortable about wearing spectacles – or they won’t use them when they should. So we take great care to explain why glasses are important, as well as ensuring that they fit well and look good with modern styles.





Normally we supply plastic lenses as they are safer and lighter than glass. They’re available with special coatings which resist scratches and block out potentially harmful UV light. For even greater protection, however, there are lenses made of polycarbonate. Although more expensive, they are virtually unbreakable and are ideal for children.



We will discuss the different options with you and only recommend spectacles that suit both your child’s needs and your budget.



Good vision is essential in childhood development and regular eye examinations are the key to good vision. The earlier any problem is detected, the greater the chances of it being corrected. So, even if nothing appears to be wrong, it’s important to make sure your child has a sight test at least once a year.



Remember that it costs nothing to have your child’s eyes examined at our practice by a fully qualified optometrist. We provide a professional Eyecare service for children and teenagers, together with stylish modern spectacles at affordable prices. We have a selected range of children’s spectacles completely free with an NHS Voucher.