Younger children often don’t verbalise any visual problems because they do not have a point of comparison between what their sight should be and what they are experiencing. Without having an eye test, there is a risk a problem may not be spotted which could affect their development and their ability to pay attention in class.
There are a lot of things an eye examination can tell us about your child’s vision even if children cannot tell us directly or specifically. They can have an eye examination at any age. If you have any concerns about your child’s eyes or if there is a history of childhood eye conditions in your family, such as a lazy eye, a squint or needing spectacles at a young age, an eye test is particularly important. It is usually a good idea for children to have a full eye examination before they go into full-time education.
Besides finding out whether a child can or cannot see clearly, an eye examination is important for checking and monitoring eye health. At Taylor-West & Co Opticians in Battersea and Dulwich, their specialist optometrists will carry out comprehensive health checks of the front and the back of eyes. They take retinal scans with advanced imaging technology as part of a routine eye exam. The Optomap uses the latest pioneering technology to capture a high resolution ultra-widefield scan of the back of the eyes, capturing up to 82% of the retina in a single image. With the OCT (Optical Coherence Tomography) device they are able to take in-depth scans showing the structural layers of the retina and optic nerve.
Taylor-West & Co. Opticians eye examinations include checks of the health of the outside structures of eyes, such as eyelids and eyelashes.
This might be a dry, itchy or weepy eye. They can also detect eyelid conditions like blepharitis, which is a common condition due to eyelid inflammation that affects people of all ages.
Where appropriate, they have special scanning facilities and digital imaging that allows an in-depth assessment of the external structures of the eyes. Along with accurate curvature scans (topography) of the front of the eye. This allows them to evaluate corneal conditions such as keratoconus (thinning of the cornea and irregularity of the corneal surface) and fit specialised contact lenses like orthokeratology lenses (night time lenses) with a higher level of accuracy and efficiency.
If required, further in-depth dry-eye assessments and can be carried out and soon a Dry Eye Treatment Clinic and chalazion treatments will be available at the Battersea branch.
Due to all the in-depth examinations, scans, tests and assessments; appointments are not rushed and can take up to an hour. They guide you through the tests, step by step, and if your child needs more time, some tests could be rescheduled to be done on another day.
When your child attends an eye examination, the optometrist will measure the level of their vision. When a child can recognise or match letters, their vision is tested using charts that have rows of letters and numbers of decreasing sizes. For younger children who are not able to articulate or read letters, a similar test using pictures or symbols may be done instead.
Different funny glasses and picture tools are used during your child’s visit so many of the tests will seem like games. They will assess how their eyes move and focus, how they work together as a team, additionally 3D vision tests (depth perception) and colour vision tests are carried out.
The specialist optometrist will be able to determine whether your child needs glasses and, if so, the best and most comfortable glasses correction (prescription) needed to achieve normal vision.
If your child is found to be myopic (short-sighted) following an eye test, Taylor-West & Co Optometrist would usually recommend that a myopia management strategy is started as soon as possible. This is because generally when myopia onsets in childhood, it tends to progress, over the months and years. The younger a child becomes myopic, the faster they tend to progress, leading to higher levels of myopia in adulthood. Taylor-West & Co Opticians staff are trained in specialised myopia management techniques including Miyosmart lenses, which aim to slow excessive eye growth and therefore slow down the progression of childhood myopia. They will offer the most suitable options for your child’s visual and lifestyle needs and eye health factors determined in their eye examination.
The optometrist will explain when your child will be recalled for ongoing assessments, often scheduled at 3, 6 or 12 month intervals.
Regarding Dyslexia and visual stress screening – please enquire within the Battersea branch for any further information.
Should your child require vision correction, the optometrist is able to assess your child’s suitability for contact lenses. There is no minimum age to start wearing contact lenses. To fit contact lenses for the first time, the optometrist will analyse your child’s prescription and other parameters such as cleanliness, dexterity, and motivation. Additional teaching, handling and assessment appointments are required as part of the fitting process.
Taylor-West & Co. Opticians have created Eye-Care plans that include access to the appointments with specialist optometrists and eye care professionals, so your eye health is never put off.
The choosing of eyewear is fun and easy with the TW&C opticians who will go through a very inclusive and shared selection process, yet always giving the most suitable options for your child’s visual needs. They take into consideration the anatomical structure of a child’s face and advise on the best frame fitting and prescription lens requirements.
They have carefully selected independent eyewear brands that are designed and manufactured to specific parameters taken from measuring children of different age groups; and are passionate about helping and rewarding your child.
They also provide the best prescription sport, swimming and sport specific eyewear.
68 Northcote Road, London, SW11 6QL
80 Lordship Lane, London, SE22 8HF