Your child's eyesight – what you need to know

Children should have their eyesight tested at least every 18 months. But you should also make an appointment with the optician if you suspect any of the following problems: 

Amblyopia
Lazy eye, or amblyopia, is a loss of vision in an eye that is not corrected by glasses alone. Crossed eyes, eyes that don't line up, or one eye that focuses better than the other can cause amblyopia.

Colour Deficiency
This might range from a slight difficulty in telling different shades of a colour apart to not being able to identify any colour.

Myopia
In myopia (short sightedness), the eyeball is too long for the normal focusing power of the eye. As a result, images of distant objects appear blurred.

Strabismus
Strabismus is a word for eyes that are not straight or do not line up with each other.

Hyperopia
In this condition, which is better known as long sightedness, the eyeball is too short for the normal focusing power of the eye. In children, the lens in the eye accommodates for this error and provides clear vision for distance and usually near viewing, but with considerable effort that often causes fatigue and sometimes crossed eyes.

Astigmatism
Astigmatism results primarily from an irregular shape of the front surface of the cornea, the transparent 'window' at the front of the eye. People with astigmatism typically see vertical lines more clearly than horizontal ones, and sometimes the reverse.

Watching films on a tablet, playing games on a console or video-calling a friend on a phone: we're all guilty of excessive screen use at times, but too much screentime can lead to eye strain.
 
'Eyestrain is a common condition that affects both adults and children and occurs when your eyes get tired from intense use, such as staring at digital devices. Whilst eye strain can be irritating, it usually isn’t serious and will go away once you rest your eyes,' explains Charlotte Cook, Optometrist and Clinical Development Coach at Bayfields Opticians and Audiologists.
 
'However, there is a risk of becoming short sighted if you use screens a lot. If children have symptoms of eye strain, such as headaches or difficulties focusing, it’s a clear sign that they need to take more breaks from screens to avoid any long-lasting damage.'
 
To help reduce eye strain:

• Reduce glare and reflections where possible by making sure the screen is pointed away from light sources. You can also fit anti-glare covers to your screen.
• If your child wears glasses, they may benefit from a lens with a blue light filter (speak to your optometrist for advice). 
• Regular breaks are vital: for every 20 minutes a child watches something on a screen, encourage them to take 20 seconds at least away from it. 
• Encourage your child to vary their activities and take a break from focusing up close, for example by playing outside or going for a walk.
• Avoid small screens if you can; when we’re using devices like smartphones, we tend to hold them closer to our face and strain our eyes more to read smaller text.