Children's Clinic -
80% of a child’s learning is visual, so it’s really important to have their eyes tested at an early age to ensure nothing holds them back. The NHS offers free eye tests to all children under 16 and full-time students under 19. And if they need glasses, we have a huge range of free kids’ specs to choose from.
So if your child hasn’t had their eyes tested yet, or if they’re due a check-up, book them an appointment at our child clinic.
Is It The Same As An Eye Screening At School?
No. An eye test with a qualified optometrist is an essential health check. About 4 in 100 children aged five have a squint – this can lead to visual loss called amblyopia, which can become permanent unless treated early in childhood. Our specialised equipment can help detect eye diseases before a child has even noticed any change in their vision.
What Are The Symptoms?
Telltale signs of eye problems include:
- Sitting close to the TV
- Rubbing their eyes
- Holding objects very close to their face
- Blinking a lot
- One eye turning either in or out
What Happens During The Eye Test?
One of our friendly optometrists will carry out a comprehensive eye test, which includes:
- Checking the vision in each eye using a letter chart (which is compared to expected levels of development and growth)
- Eye muscle balance tests (to check alignment of the eyes)
- Pupil responses
- An internal examination of the eye using a special instrument that shines light all the way to the back of the eye
- A fundus camera to photograph the back of the eye to monitor any findings (where required)
- Shining a light into the eye to observe the reflection from the back of the eye to help the optometrist determine any glasses prescription
- An assessment of colour vision and 3D vision at the first test
