Young children aren’t always able to explain their health issues, so they may be experiencing vision problems for a long time without realising it. Remember that once you have your prescription contact lenses test, you’re free to purchase contact lenses from anywhere you like, and the best place to buy your eye care products at the lowest prices is here, at Feel Good.
How often should my child get a sight test?
It’s important for children to regular eye tests every year. Don't rely on your school doing a visions screening; there’s no better time for a check-up than before the school term starts.
As children are growing and changing all the time, it's good to check in with them now and again for any potential issues. If you’re already rushing around town, then it may be the perfect time to kill two birds with one stone and get them (and perhaps yourselves) an eye examination.
Here are some things to look out for in your children.
Difficulty playing sports
Hand-eye coordination and judging distances are two essential skills needed for playing sports. Your child is having trouble with these skills; they may often miss catches, bump into people and objects and trip over.
Difficulty reading
As they progress in reading age, the writing in their workbooks tends to get smaller, and language becomes more complex, putting more strain on children's eyes.
Your child may:
- Skip lines or re-read the same line- Muddle their words
- Read at an uneven pace
- Lose interest quickly or avoid reading altogether
They may also complain that their eyes feel tired or painful after reading.
Consistent headaches
Poor eyesight forces the eyes to work harder to see, which causes eye strain. It’s common to suffer from headaches because of this as the eye struggles to read words and distinguish objects.
Complaining of blurry vision
A common complaint your child may express is difficulty reading words on the board in class. Myopia, astigmatism and hyperopia are common eye-related problems that can result in blurry vision. They can all be diagnosed with a simple eye test. If your child's vision is blurry, they may squint, tilt their head or try and see out of the corner of their eyes as opposed to looking straight ahead.
Sitting too close to the TV
Is watching TV bad for toddler’s eyes? It depends on how long they spend doing it. Sitting too close to the TV could be a sign that your child is struggling to see from a distance (or they just really like Peppa Pig). You may also notice that they hold books and electronic devices too close to their faces whilst trying to read, watch videos or play games.
A drop in overall school performance
Poor eyesight will slow down your child's ability to complete tasks at school, so a drop in their performance is inevitable. This is another reason they should have their eyes checked to resolve any eye problems that can be spotted early.
Can a child wear contact lenses?
If you’re unsure about whether or not to buy contact lenses for your child, read our page concerning age limits on wearing contact lenses. In the meantime, there are signs and symptoms that you can look out for that indicate whether or not your child may need an eye test. The earlier potential problems are spotted, the easier it is to treat them. Here are 6 things that you should look out for when monitoring your child’s eye health.
For more information on various eye conditions, their causes, symptoms ways to treat them, head over to our dedicated Eye Care Hub where you’ll find extensive information about eye health, eye care and contact lenses. Give you and your little one the gift of healthy eyesight this Christmas and make sure to get checked if you haven’t done so recently.
