When should your child have an eye test?
04/12/2015
My children had their first eye tests back in October, but, has your little one ever had an eye test? Do you know what the recommended age for children to have their eyes tested is? How much do you think kid’s eye tests costs? New research from Specsavers has shown that 4 million school children across the UK have never had their first eye test. Furthermore, almost a third of parents don’t know the correct age children should start being tested and many parents have simply never even thought about getting their kids an eye test.
Did you know….
- National guidelines recommend ALL children should have their first eye test at the age of 4 years old (or even sooner if you suspect your child might have problems with their vision)
- 90% of parents across the UK have no idea that minor sight problems can be corrected before a child turns eight years old
- Little ones don’t need to know all their letters or be able to read in order to have a sight test – special tests using images and colours have been created so all children can still have their vision screened
- Professor David Thomson from City University London says there is significant evidence to suggest that between 15 and 20 per cent of children in the UK have poor vision in one – or both – eyes
- Eye tests for children under the age of 16 are available free on the NHS
- Sitting close to the TV, holding objects close to the face, excessive rubbing and blinking of the eyes, squinting and one eye turning inside or outside are all key signs a child may have sight problems
- Over a quarter of parents surveyed by Specsavers said they saw an academic improvement in the performance of their child after getting glasses
- Over half of parents surveyed by Specsavers said they saw an improvement in the performance of their child’s social skills after being fitted with glassesThanks to Specsavers for sharing their information, and when did your family last get their eye health checked?
