It can be hard to notice if your child’s vision is deteriorating, especially if your child is under five.

It can be hard to notice if your child’s vision is deteriorating, especially if your child is under five. While a child needing glasses isn’t a big deal it does take getting a test and checking if everything is OK. 
Young children are usually tested as part of their routine developmental checks but though they are helpful, the truth is, a full eye examination will determine vision problems.
If your child is due to start school and you are worried about their vision the best step you can make is getting them assessed so that your child can be ready for school. In this article we give you some information regarding your child’s vision and eye tests:
Signs that your child may have vision problems:
  • Squinting may be a sign that your child is having trouble focusing on objects or rubbing their eyes frequently. Especially if it continues to be an issue it is a sign you shouldn’t ignore.
  • Sitting too close to the TV and holding devices too close to their face could be another sign that your child needs an eye test. People with near-sightedness have clear vision at close range but poor vision at a distance.
  • Tilting head or covering one eye. If your youngster is covering one eye or tilting their head, it may be a sign that they are adjusting their head to try and get better vision.
  • Eye rubbing may indicate eye fatigue or strain and again, it mustn’t be ignored.
  • Headaches or eye pain. Complaining about eye pain isn’t something a child with good vision will say or at least not regularly. If this is happening often, you need to get their eyes tested sooner rather than later.
  • If your child is in school, they may find it difficult to concentrate on their work through no fault of their own.
What happens at an eye test?
An eye test is a non-invasive test to check eyes for their overall health inside and outside the eye. The test also can determine if there are any other eye issues like depth perception, eye alignment and crossed eyes. The point of an eye test is to improve your child’s vision and eradicate any potential problems in the future. Undetected vision problems can impact your child’s performance in every part of their daily lives.
A children’s eye test is different from an adult eye test and they use specially designed charts to allow children to recognise shapes or pictures. This model is vitally important as it means young children who are not able to read yet, can get an accurate eye test. Parents can accompany their child and there will be some questions about your child’s overall health and why you are getting them tested.
Now what?
If your child needs glasses your optician will offer you the best options and your child can decide on the style of frames they would like. Most kids will wear the glasses and not be embarrassed but for others, it may take them time to be confident with them. Give your child time and encourage them to wear their glasses. Ensure you follow up on appointments and your child will be in the best hands and have good vision.

Emma Hayes is a thirty-something mum of two girls aged 16 and 10, planting her right into the teenage and tween-age years! Follow her on Twitter at @EmmaHayes25.

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