Your child’s vision

We want all children to be able to explore, play and learn until the sun sets… and then to be able to wake up and do it all again!

Did you know, that the greatest chance of success for treating certain eye conditions in children will be before the age of 7?

So as your child begins school (or even earlier at nursery), if you happen to notice that your child exhibits anything that concerns you, pop in and see us. Remember, under the NHS there is no charge for eye tests for under 16s.

Behaviours to watch out for…

• Complaints of headaches or tired eyes after school
• Rubbing their eyes a lot (except when tired, which is normal)
• Having excessively watery eyes
• Sitting very close to the TV or holding books/objects close to their face
• Being unusually clumsy and having poor hand/eye coordination
• Complaints about blurred or double vision or having unexplained headaches
• Screwing their eyes up or closing one eye when they read or watch TV
• Avoiding reading, writing or drawing
• Closing one eye when they go out in bright sunshine

How can we help?

We want all children to be able to explore, play and learn until the sun sets… and then to be able to wake up and do it all again!

Not only can we provide a comprehensive eye examination but we can also provide a range of options if your child has a problem with their vision. This includes special glasses and lenses designed for children (and for your wallet!), contact lenses, referrals to specialists etc.

Under the NHS we can provide a free eye test to your child every 6 months so if necessary, we can schedule regular check-ups to see how their vision is developing.

CHILDRENS VISION

The importance of annual eye exams goes well beyond just making sure your vision isn’t blurry.

As Coastal’s optometrist Justin Asgarpour  says: “Eyes are a window to the body.”

Here are five reasons why eye exams are important — and why you should have annual eye exams to safeguard your health and wellness.

1. Eye exams help children succeed in school.

OK, this one is for you parents. Did you know that 80 percent of what children are expected to learn in and outside the classroom requires good vision? It’s true — and that statistic, which has been around for a long time, probably should be revised upward because of the ever-increasing amount of screen time kids are exposed to these days.

An annual eye exam is the only way to ensure your child is seeing clearly and comfortably to succeed in the classroom. It’s also the only way to know for sure if kids are seeing their best for sports and other activities, too.

2. Myopia is becoming an epidemic.

After a comprehensive exam, your eye doctor will discuss the findings and offer treatment options best suited to your needs.

The number of children who are developing myopia (nearsightedness) is growing faster than ever. And more kids are getting nearsighted at a very early age.

Why is this a big concern?

Children who become nearsighted very early in life tend to experience a worsening and progression of nearsightedness that continues throughout childhood — and this puts them at a significantly greater risk of very serious and potentially sight-threatening eye conditions later in life, including cataracts, glaucoma and retinal detachment.

Scheduling annual eye exams is the best way to assess your child’s risk of myopia. When detected early, myopia control measures can be taken to slow the progression of myopia and reduce your child’s risk of serious eye problems later in life.

 If you haven’t had your eyes examined recently, schedule a visit with us today!

3. Vision screenings are no substitute for an eye exam.

Too often, parents are led to believe their child is seeing perfectly well because she passed a school vision screening. Or adults think they see perfectly because they pass a vision screening at the motor vehicle department. Frequently, neither of these assumptions are correct.

Vision screenings are just that — they screen out individuals who have serious (and usually quite obvious) vision problems. Screenings can identify apparent problems a person might have with specific visual tasks, such as seeing a chalkboard clearly in the classroom or recognizing road signs and other objects from behind the wheel.

Only a comprehensive eye exam by an optometrist or ophthalmologist can ensure your vision is as clear and comfortable as possible — and that you’re free from potentially serious eye diseases that don’t have obvious early symptoms, including glaucoma and even eye cancer.