Caring for Childrens Eye Health
Children rarely complain about eye problems or realise that they’re vision is reduced. This may be why 1 in 5 Australian children have never had a children eye test. Because of this reason, many children go through school with their vision problems undetected.
Why is it important to get a Children Eye Exam?
Signs that your child may have a vision problem
It is often difficult to know whether your child has an eyesight problem, which is why children should have their eyes checked regularly. However, there are several signs that could indicate that your child has a vision problem. Some signs to look out for include:
Frequent eye rubbing
Squinting or straining their eyes
Tilting their head to see better
Covering an eye to see better
Falling behind in school
Losing their place when reading - skipping lines, letters or repeating words and letters
Appears as if the words are moving
Headaches
Tired or heavy eyes
Holding things very close to see
Eye turning out/in when they are tired
Watery eyes
Sensitivity to light
Double vision
If you feel that your child may be struggling with their vision, you should book them in for a children eye exam with an optometrist. If you are looking for an optometrist who is great with children, you should book in to see our friendly and experienced optometrist at Northbridge Optical. To book bulk billed children eye tests call Northbridge Optical on (02) 8350 2910.
How often should children get an eye test?
Being able to see clearly is very important to a child’s learning particularly in their fundamental years of schooling. Uncorrected vision problems may not only affect their eyesight but can also result in behavioural problems.
We recommend that all children get their eye test before starting school. Children's eye tests are different from a regular eye test for an adult. At Northbridge Optical, our friendly optometrist uses specially designed charts with shapes and pictures to help children who are not yet familiar with letters and numbers.
As your children grow and develop, so do their eyes - we recommend having your children’s eye tested annually or more frequently if recommended by your optometrist.