Children often don’t realise they have a problem with their eyes. Therefore, without regular child eye tests many eye problems can be remain undiagnosed.
Many eye conditions are easier to treat if detected while a child’s vision is still developing. An early diagnosis will help to ensure that your child has access to specialist paediatric services.
We recommend a first eye examination at age 4. Myopia or shortsightedness is on the rise but the good news is that we can now slow myopia down by up to 62%. Learn more about myopia management in our practice,
Common Eye Problems
The most common eye problem requiring early treatment is Amblyopia (or a lazy eye). There are number of reasons why amblyopia can develop. These include optical prescriptions (refractive error), a strabismus (an eye the turns) or rarely congential cataract or glaucoma.
Children rarely complain or poor vision where when they have a difference in optical prescriptions between the eyes or when they have a turn in their eyes.
After the initial examination at our practice, our Optometrists may recommend a cycloplegic refraction for your child. Here, drops will be instilled to relax accommodation to determine the full optical prescription.
Strabismus Treatment Video
Are you ready for your next eye examination?
Children under 16 (or in full-time education under 19) are entitled to free NHS examinations. If you require glasses we offer a complete pair of spectacles free of charge (with an NHS voucher).
Myopia Management
What Can You Do?
Causes of Myopia
The amount of near work, outdoor activity and family history of myopia play a role in the progression of shortsightedness. Eye related factors can also identify potential for myopia development, these can be assessed with a specialised myopia management consultation.
MiYOSMART
Spectacle Lenses
MiYOSMART lenses represent the very latest technological breakthrough in myopia management. Research over 2 years shows children wearing MiYOSMART spectacle lens have on average by 60% less eye growth compared to children wear conventional spectacle lenses.
MiSight
Daily Disposable Contact Lenses
The first FDA approved daily disposable contact lens for myopia management. 3 yr results show a 52% reduction in eye growth when treatment was started at the age of 10. The lenses have been extensively researched and latest 6 year results show that 23% of wearers’ prescriptions had not increased at all.
Orthokeratology
Night-time Only Contact Lenses
Sleep in specially designed lenses that gently reshape of the eye overnight resulting in clear vision during the day without spectacles or contact lenses. A large body of evidence shows that Ortho-K typically reduces eye growth by approximately 50% over a 2-year study period.
