Eye Health -

EYE
HEALTH

Your eye sight is one of the most precious gifts you posses.

eye health

Your eye test

We warmly welcome you and hope to put you at ease in our relaxed, patient-friendly environment, where familiarity with our professional staff is essential.
At Gordon Thomas and Avista Eye Care, we have always placed a strong emphasis on building a solid community foundation while providing a personalised service. We provide comprehensive eye care, delivering top-notch professionalism and the comfort of a friendly, welcoming team. Committed to helping you, we empower you to choose your eye care needs. For generations, loyal patients and families have trusted us with their eye care, and their support has been key to our continued excellence.

Please allow a half-hour for your consultation. Prior to any eye examination, we will complete a pre-examination questionnaire, which will aid us in our investigation of your vision. Some people are entitled to a free NHS sight test. Click here to see if you eligible.

Contact us for more information.

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eye health

Children’s eye test

As optometrists, we’re committed to optimising children’s vision for their academic and social development. Early intervention is crucial as children’s eyes continue to develop during childhood, ensuring a lasting impact on their well-being. We warmly welcome our young patients with a dedicated specialist and a child-friendly eyewear area. Using advanced technology, we assess children’s visual development. Children’s vision tests vary; some are shy, while others are inquisitive. We adapt the test to their abilities for the best results. We collaborate with local hospitals and GP surgeries, spanning generations. Our role is to identify refractive issues and refer them to specialists. We offer a diverse selection of durable, age-appropriate frames designed for children of all backgrounds.

Five ways to protect your child’s eyes

1. Spending a few hours a day outside.
2. Avoid using mobile devices at bedtime to promote better sleep.
3. Shield their eyes from harmful UV rays with UV-filtered sunglasses.
4. Eating five servings of fruits and vegetables per day can help protect their vision.
5. Schedule an eye test every two years – Children under 16 get NHS-funded sight tests.

Overview of children’s
eye examination

Our child eye exams cater to toddlers, preteens, and teens. We assess vision, eye coordination, and health. After the test, we discuss results, answer questions, and provide recommendations for glasses and a ‘when to wear’ schedule if needed.

Free NHS funded eye examinations

All children under the age of 16 and those under the age of 19 in full-time education are eligible for a free NHS eye examination. For more information please visit the free NHS eye exam website.

Preparing your child for an eye exam

How you help prepare your child for an eye examination

1. Plan your child’s eye exams for a time of day when they’ll be most alert and cooperative.
2. Explain to your child that our optician will use special tools to ensure their eyes are healthy. Remind them of your own positive experiences at the optician.
3. Encourage your child to share their concerns about going to the optician with us so that we can make their visit more comfortable.
4. Our optician will inquire about your child’s lifestyle, hobbies, and any family history of eye problems.

Problems with vision to look out for

A child’s eye health affects their growth and education. Regular eye tests are crucial, as issues can affect their school performance. Sometimes, there are no clear signs, and kids might not realise something’s wrong. Symptoms like headaches or eye strain can occur. Early identification of vision problems is essential for their well-being.

Symptoms of vision problems may be:

An eye turned in a different direction
Concentration problems
Constant headaches
Sitting too close to the television
Holding books too close to the face
Frequent rubbing of the eyes
Squinting of the eyes
Blinking excessively
Uncomfortable in bright light
Stumbling and colliding with objects
Trouble recognising colours
Double vision or blurred vision
Words shift during reading

A full visual assessment will reveal whether this, or any other signs of visual skill deficiency, exist.

Your babies eyes

Parents play an important role in helping to assure their child’s eyes and vision develop properly.

Steps that every parent should take include:

Keep an eye out for signs of eye and vision problems. Engaging in age-appropriate activities can aid in the development of their child’s vision. Seek professional eye care beginning with the first comprehensive eye exam around the age of six months.

At all ages:

If you notice any of the following symptoms, you should take your child to a doctor as soon as possible.

An opaque, white glow or white reflection in the pupil of an eye
A missing or altered “red eye” reflection in photographs
Instances where the eyes do not appear to look in the same direction (a squint).
For no obvious reason: watering, redness, sore, or swollen eyes
Drooping eyelids
A change in the colour of the iris (the coloured part of the eye), especially if only in one area
Increasing sensitivity to light
You suspectIon of sight deterioration

Your Babies Eyes

Babies do not see as well as older children or adults at birth. Their vision and eyes aren’t fully developed. However, significant progress is made during the first few months of life. The following are some vision and child development milestones to look out for: It is important to remember that no two children are alike, and some may reach certain developmental milestones at different ages. Premature or low birth weight babies are more likely to have vision problems. This is due to their eyes missing the final stages of development near the end of the pregnancy.

What to expect & things you can do

eye health

Frequently asked questions

Why is important to have regular eye tests?

and young children. Delaying eye testing for your child, on the other hand, can have an impact on their educational performance, causing slow development of certain skills as well as leading to amblyopia, also known as “the lazy eye.” This can become irreversible if not treated.

It is critical to have your children’s eyes tested because undiagnosed eyesight and health issues can have a direct impact on their academic performance. The earlier an eye problem is identified, the better for your child.

Should my child’s eyes be monitored on a regular basis for a check-up?

Age, health, and the risk of family-related eye problems may all influence how frequently your child needs to have an eye exam. It is critical to ensure that your child’s eyes are checked on a regular basis. Most children are seen once a year or every six months if there is a problem.

Should we wait before our child can read before having an eye examination?

A sight test does not require children to be able to read words or even letters. Other methods, such as pictures, can be used to assess your child’s vision. We recommend that children have a vision test around the age of three so that problems can be identified and treated early. Following the initial exam, you should return every one to two years, or as recommended by your optometrist. It is preferable to detect any eye conditions that can be treated early, preferably before they begin primary school or nursery.

Will wearing glasses make my child’s eye weaker or lazy?

Wearing glasses does not cause your eyes to become dependent on them. In most cases, the glasses will relieve strain and relax their eye muscles, making vision easier and more comfortable.

My partner and me don’t wear glasses will our child need to wear glasses?

Both genetic and family history, as well as environmental and social factors, can influence the need for glasses. At an eye exam, it is always a good idea to rule out any familial concerns as well as get advice on how to improve environmental factors to help maximise sight.

Does my child need to know their letters of the alphabet?

No, we have a variety of vision tests that we can use depending on the child’s age and level of confidence during the test. Some vision tests don’t even require your child to speak; we just look at eye movements to see if they’ve seen the picture.

What can you expect during the eye examination?

What happens during a child’s eye exam varies according to the child’s age and visual investigative needs. We will look into your child’s vision, eye muscles, and the genetic health of the retina and front of the eye in general. We will also look into the current state of colour vision.

What is a sight test?

A sight test is a thorough examination that can detect a variety of conditions, including colour vision defects, difficulties with the development of 3D vision, and the need for glasses.

What if my child shows symptoms of vision problems?

This could indicate that your child requires glasses or that they have a healthy but impaired eye, also known as a “lazy eye.” Because the condition can run in families, it’s a good idea to take any related children for a sight test if a relative has an eye turn (squint) or suffers from reduced vision in one or both eyes (amblyopia).

What is vision screening?

Some children have their vision screened at school; this is usually a simple test designed to identify children with poor vision in one or both eyes. If a problem is suspected, children are usually referred to an optometrist for a comprehensive vision examination. Parents may believe that their child has been screened at school, but this is not the case in every part of the country. Even when this occurs, it is usually not until the age of four or five, so we recommend that all children have a sight test at the age of three.

Why is it important for eye conditions to be picked up early?

Children’s vision develops until they are about eight years old. This means that we have until this age to correct their vision and any muscle weakness to allow normal vision development. If left untreated, it can result in a lazy eye.

How is the eye related to dyslexia?

Dyslexia is a term that is frequently used very loosely to refer to general difficulties with written language. Many of our patients have language difficulties that are similar to dyslexia but are not dyslexic. People in this category most likely have a vision problem, which we can help with coloured overlays or lenses, vision therapy, or both. If a person is dyslexic and experiencing these symptoms, we can help them improve their visual efficiency.

What are the related symptoms?

People with dyslexia and people with vision problems share symptoms such as poor eye teaming, poor eye tracking, and perceptual problems. Words on a page may appear to move or be reversed as a result of these issues.

What can be done to distinguish the two?

A functional full visual assessment will determine whether the issue is visual. There are some people who have both dyslexia and a vision problem. In these situations, vision therapy should be part of a multidisciplinary approach that includes special education and counselling.

Can digital screens harm my child’s eyes?

According to research, excessive screen time can hasten the progression of myopia (shortsightedness), so screen time must be balanced with time spent outdoors. There is no scientific evidence that blue light from screens causes eye damage, but it can cause poor sleep if used before bed. Make sure all electronic devices are turned off at least an hour before going to bed. If you require advice on blue light prevention, please contact us.
(Link to blue light children’s sheet)

What can I do if I don’t want my child to wear glasses?

If you are hesitant to have your child wear glasses, keep in mind that some children require a visual correction to develop normally and reach their full potential. The good news is that there is now a much larger selection of attractive frames to choose from, as well as less stigma associated with wearing glasses. Some children may be disappointed if they are told that they do not need to wear glasses.

Many children are also candidates for contact lenses. This is especially beneficial for children who participate in regular sports activities and can be worn successfully from a younger age than you might expect. Consult your optometrist about whether contact lenses are appropriate for your child.

How much does a sight test cost?

Sight tests are free for children under the age of 16 and for anyone in full-time education up to the age of 19.

Learn more about the Children’s Free NHS funded sight test. (please link to NHS re to Print)

What is the role of a dispensing optician?

Your optometrist will examine the eye and perform the vision test, whereas a dispensing optician will assist the patient in learning how to use their glasses and ensure that they fit and align correctly with their face.

What age can my child be suitable to wear contact lenses?

The optometrist and the parents involved usually decide whether a child is a good candidate for contact lenses. A child’s contact lenses can provide significant clinical benefit. Some types of contact lenses can help slow the progression of shortsightedness, and children can often see better and perform different activities while wearing contact lenses than they can while wearing glasses. As a result, for children who wear daily lenses, we usually just run away at the end of the day, and it is sometimes necessary for the parent or how they will be involved in this to please link into contact lenses.

Will my child know that they have a vision problem?

An uncorrected visual problem can affect your child’s learning because children don’t know any different. Long-sighted people may have difficulty reading because the text appears blurry and small. A child who is short-sighted may struggle to see the words, which can make learning difficult.