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You can get your child's eyesight tested when they reach school age. This can be done to both examine their vision as well as to assess the overall health of their eyes.

Wondering if you should take your child for an eye test? This brief guide will detail what you need to know about children's eye health - from what to look out for to common eye conditions.

 

Introduction to Kids' Eye Health

Around the age of 4 or 5, you can book your child in for what is known as a "vision screening". This initial test inspects your child's eye health and will detect any symptoms of vision problems.

Up to this point, you need to protect your child's eyesight as much as you possibly can. This can be done by limiting their screen time, feeding them a healthy diet, and only letting them play with age-appropriate toys.

 

The Importance of Regular Eye Exams for Children

Your child may not be able to communicate the sight issues they're experiencing. It's your responsibility to look out for signs and symptoms and book regular eye examinations.

By taking your child for regular eye examinations, problems can be detected and resolved early.

 

Signs and Symptoms of Vision Problems in Kids

There are several signs of poor eye health you should look out for, including the following:

  • Lack of hand-eye coordination

  • Squinting at digital devices and screens/boards

  • Holding objects close to their eyes

  • Tilting their head

  • Rubbing their eyes

  • A lack of awareness of far-away items

  • A lack of distance awareness

  • Light sensitivity

 

Common Eye Conditions in Children and Their Treatments

If you fail to get your child's eyes tested, they could develop one of the following eye conditions:

  • Astigmatism, myopia, or hyperopia - These are three types of refractive errors that are common in children. They prevent light from reflecting correctly off the retina and cause blurred vision. The main treatment of these three errors is to get the child glasses.

  • Binocular vision dysfunction (BVD) - This occurs when your child's eyes are not working together due to a misalignment. This misalignment can be corrected with specialist glasses. If your child regularly suffers from headaches, fatigue, or dizziness, they may have BVD.

  • Amblyopia - This is sometimes referred to as "lazy eye" and is the result of one eye being weaker than the other. The solution to this problem depends on severity. Children diagnosed with amblyopia will either be given glasses or eye drops. They may even be given an eye patch to wear.

 

Promoting Kids' Eye Health

Keep your child's eyes healthy by:

  • Keeping sharp objects out of reach.

  • Looking out for digital eye strain.

  • Watching their visual engagement when playing sports.

If you think your child is suffering from any of the optical health issues highlighted in this article, use Book an Eye Test to book an appointment with a local eye doctor.

We'd also recommend reading our other kids eye health guides.

 

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