Children's eyesight

Children’s eyes are essential to their development. Through their eyes, children learn about their world. Though the last of the senses to mature in children, sight is the most important. 80% of children’s education comes in visual form. Clear and healthy vision is vital to your child’s development and at Eyesite, we go that extra mile to help your child have happy and healthy vision.

How important is it to have my children’s eyes examined regularly?
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Many vision problems begin at an early age in childhood, so it’s crucial that children receive proper eye care from the time they are infants. Early detection and treatment are essential to prevent conditions that could potentially cause future problems or vision loss.

At Eyesite, we recommend that every child has a professional eye examination shortly after birth, by six months of age, and again just prior to entering school. Once in school, children should have an annual eye test.

Eye examination costs at Eyesite are covered by the NHS for children under the age of 16, and NHS vouchers issued after the eye examination will cover the full cost of many of our frames and lenses.

We also specialise in children’s eye problems, such as colour deficiency. If you feel your child could benefit from our trusted advice, just make an appointment or visit us in store. We strive to make our practices a safe and enjoyable experience for children. So come on into your local branch and meet our mascot, Edgar, at your child’s next eye test.

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Caring for young eyes

Some of the signs to look for in your child that could indicate a vision problem include:

Excessive blinking
Squinting to see things
Poor performance at school
Reluctance to read
Sitting closer to the TV, peering closer to read books
Clumsiness
Headaches
White reflex in the eye in photos

If you’ve got any concerns about your child’s eyesight and would like to speak to an expert, please get in touch with a member of our team. We cater for all children and provide specialised eye tests to ensure they’re cared for at such a young age.

Children's Eye Tests

Eye problems in children

Eye problems in children can develop as early as in the womb itself. Some eye conditions are genetic, while others are just a fluke of nature. 90% of eye conditions can be caught on a regular eye test.

Squint

If not treated, squint can lead to amblyopia. Fortunately, given the obvious symptoms of squint (squinting), it can be easily picked up during a regular eye test. You can learn more about squint on our common eye problems page.

Short-sightedness

1 in 3 people are short-sighted. This common eye condition is usually first diagnosed in children aged 12. Younger children may also have it, but without regular eye tests, it can be difficult to notice. Learn more about short-sightedness.

Long-sightedness

Commonly noticed when children experience blurred vision while reading, most children are slightly long-sighted. If it begins to cause a problem, it is easily corrected with glasses.

Astigmatism

If your child’s cornea or lens isn’t perfectly shaped, they may have an astigmatism. Most people who wear glasses have astigmatism to one degree or another.

Amblyopia

Also known as lazy eye, 1 in 50 children develop amblyopia. Amblyopia causes children to favour the stronger eye, leaving its weaker counterpart to become weaker still.

Retinoblastoma

Retinoblastoma is caused by a tumour developing on the retina. Found in very young children, this eye condition occurs in the womb and affects around 50-60 children in the UK a year.

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Visual Stress

Visual Stress is a perceptual processing condition that causes reading difficulties, headaches and visual problems from exposure to patterns in text, such as lines of text. Visual Stress is linked to dyslexia and similar visual learning difficulties. Sufferers experience print distortion and fatigue when reading

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Children’s Glasses

Deciding on the right pair of glasses for your child can feel like a big decision. That’s why we’re here to help and guide you throughout the entire process. Our experts can provide advice on the best options for your child so they get the glasses they need and love.

Children's Glasses

Children’s Contact Lenses

Contact lenses can be worn by children from a young age. If you’re interested in exploring this option for your child then our experts are happy to help. We can provide specialist advice to ensure that your child receives the best possible contact lens quality and care throughout.

Children's Contact Lenses

Visual Skill Games For Children

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