Children's Vision
Your child is never too young to have his/her eyes checked. The early years of a child’s life is critical for their vision development, so we generally recommend eye tests for children at 6 months, 2 years and 5 years of age, then two-yearly thereafter.
Why should I have my child's eyes checked?
Often, the most common eye conditions for children are only picked up if they had a proper eye test or screening assessment, unbeknownst to the parent. Routine eye tests ensure that their visual system is able to meet the changing demands that come with different stages of life – from being newborns, to play-based learning and then subsequently to reading and writing.
What do you test for?
- Sight – how well your child can see
- Eye movements
- Pupil function
- Eye teaming – how well the two eyes work together
- Colour vision
- Eye health
How do I know if I should bring my child in?
In addition to recommended general check ups, you may need to bring your child in to see a behavioural optometrist if they are exhibiting any of the following symptoms:
- Headaches or sore eyes, especially if associated with near work
- Poor concentration
- Closing one eye
- Squinting
- Turned eyes
- Uneven pupil reflexes in flash photography
- Poor coordination
- Lack of visual engagement
- Excessive blinking
- Tilting of head
- Frequent eye-rubbing