Eye Tests for Children: What Parents Need to Know
Eye Tests for Children: What Parents Need to Know
Did you know eye disorders, along with asthma and allergies, are the most prevalent long-term health problems children suffer from in Australia?
According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, there are more than 411,000 child cases of long-term eye disorders in the country. Most of which relate to short- or long- sightedness.
In addition, about 16% of all 10–14-year-olds wear contact lenses or glasses to improve their sight, and around 420,000 visit a GP every year with an eye problem. Between them, these statistics have been responsible, in part, for persuading authorities to fund initiatives aimed at reducing preventable vision loss.
As a parent, it is recommended that you make an appointment for your child with an optometrist before they start prep and then every two years thereafter. But in between those times, knowing what signs to look out for can ensure your child’s vision is developing as it should.
In this guide, we’ll outline how best you can do that and give you the lowdown on what to expect when your child does have an eye test.
Why Regular Eye Tests for Children Are Important
Regular eye tests for children are very important because they will detect any problems they have with their vision.
Moreover, they will ensure they are identified early, which will go a long way towards preventing long-term issues that can lead to difficulties in school, poor coordination, and even permanent vision loss in some cases.
Several vision problems can develop without obvious symptoms, and even the children themselves might not realise that their vision is impaired. Therefore, by taking them to regular check-ups, optometrists can catch these issues early, when they are most treatable.
They can also advise if you need to procure 1001 Optometry Careera sunglasses or any other make or style of eyewear for your child.
Common Eye Conditions Among Children
Unfortunately, there are several preventable eye conditions that can affect children if not detected early on.
Here are some of the most common types they might experience:
Astigmatism
This condition occurs when the shape of the child’s eye is slightly curved, which can result in it causing blurred vision. It is best corrected by wearing contact lenses or glasses.
Short-sightedness
If a child is short-sighted, objects will appear blurry in the distance, while they will be able to see anything near to you with much clearer vision. You might need prescription glasses or contact lenses to rectify this.
Long-sightedness
This affliction is the opposite of short-sightedness. It results in children having to squint to see things close by but having no trouble spotting things far away.
Again, prescription glasses can help address the complaint.
Lazy Eye
This condition occurs when one of your child’s eyes has not developed properly and, therefore, has decreased vision.
Often, this issue will be treated by using an eye patch on the weaker eye or by doing a series of therapeutic eye exercises.
How to Tell if Your Child Requires Another Eye Test
While a child is recommended to have an eye test every two years, there are some occasions when you might have to schedule one earlier for them.
Here are some tell-tale signs to look out for:
- Sitting extremely close to their device or the TV
- Closing one eye to read
- Complaining about headaches, eye strain, distorted or blurred vision and double vision while reading.
- Rubbing or squinting eyes more than normal
- Complaining of watery, burning or itchy eyes
- Trouble reading or learning at school
What Happens During Your Child’s Eye Test
Routine children’s eye tests are designed to be as stress-free and comfortable as possible.
During them, you will be asked a series of questions about the lifestyle and health of the child, and in particular, if they have any existing or hereditary medical conditions that might impact their vision.
The optician will also shine a lighted instrument known as a phoropter into your child’s eyes, which will project several lenses of varying strengths into it to ascertain which one appears clearest for them over different distances.
They may also ask your child to cover one of their eyes to read a letter chart on the wall or identify a number of colours and shapes.
Additionally, the optician might put drops on your child’s pupils, which will dilate them enough to give them a closer look or use instruments that test how much pressure is on their eyes.
Once the appointment is over, you will be given the results of the various eye tests performed on your child and any recommendations for corrective eyewear.
If they deem it necessary, they might even give you a referral to a specialist for further evaluation or specialist treatment.
How to Prepare Your Child for an Eye Test
It is understandable that your child might be nervous about the eye test, so you should take some steps to ease their anxiety.
The best way to do this is to explain how simple and straightforward the process will be. However, it is also worth buying a toy eye doctor set and playing with it with them.
Lastly, if all else fails, you can always incentivise them with the promise of an ice cream. It is amazing how effective this tactic can be!
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