For one, children tend to have a hard time assessing their own vision, and usually assume that the way they see is the same as everybody else. Behavioural Optometrist, Kate Merrin, answers some common questions about childrens vision and when you should have your child's eyes tested for the first time.

When should I have my child’s vision checked for the first time?

It is a good idea for an eye test before heading into Prep, around 5-6 years of age. This allows us to see how your child is seeing as well as how their eyes are working together. From this we can then advise if there are any concerns which may hinder your child as they enter school years. If there is a family history of eye issues in the family, for example, significant glasses prescription, eye turns/lazy eyes and other genetic eye conditions an eye test sooner than 5 years of age would be advisable.

What are some signs that my pre-school age child may have a vision problem?

Signs to stay aware of include (but not limited to):

• Avoidance or struggle with close tasks
• Eye rubbing
• An eye looking turned (often noticed in photos)
• Squinting
• Frequent blinking
• Sitting close to tasks/holding things close to look at 

Should I still have my child’s vision checked if they don’t have any signs of a vision problem?

A check-up prior to commencing school is recommended for every kid, even if there are not specific signs of a vision problem. The early school years are often when a lot of vision issues start to appear in children as the increased workload for the eyes can trigger a change in both how the eyes see and how they function. If we are able to determine how their eyes are prior to commencing school, this allows us to have a baseline for future testing if issues arrive in later school years.

It's important to remember that many vision problems in children are quite difficult to see signs of in your normal day-to-day activities. Children have nothing to compare their vision to, they just think the way they see the world is normal, no matter how their eyes are actually performing. An eye test with an Optometrist is incredibly important to ensure your childs eyes are seeing clearly.



Kate Merrin

Optometrist