Children’s Eyecare Wimbledon
If you’re looking for a high quality Optometrists that deals with Children’s eyecare in Wimbledon, look no further than Fiona Watt Optometrists. Good vision is crucial to optimise childhood development. Regular eye examinations are essential to maintain good healthy vision which plays a major part in the child’s social and academic development. Children should have their first eye examination by the age of four, sooner if any problems are suspected or if there is a history of lazy eye or squints. Early diagnosis of conditions is the key to prompt and effective treatment which is more likely to be successful. In most cases children are not aware they may be suffering from an eye condition. Uncorrected vision can cause difficulty seeing the classroom board and reading, which can rapidly develop into boredom, disruptive behaviour and even a lack of interest in education altogether.
We understand that for children, having their eyes tested can be a daunting experience, especially if it is for the first time. All our staff are comfortable with children and we try to make the whole experience as fun as possible for everyone. We recommend sight examinations from the age of four upwards. If your child is younger than this and you suspect an eye problem you are more than welcome to make an appointment with one of our optometrists for further investigation.
Regular eye examinations are advised for all children. Children under the age of sixteen, as well as those aged 16-18 in full time education get the cost of their eye test covered by the NHS. Children in these groups will also receive a NHS voucher towards the cost of a pair of spectacles.
All our optometrists are parents themselves and are well experienced in child eye examinations and have a warm, gentle, friendly and caring approach. Our eye examinations are fun and engaging, especially for the little ones. This interaction encourages them to respond naturally enabling the optometrist to obtain accurate and reliable results whilst helping them learn a little bit about their own eyes. The eye examination is tailored to suit the child’s needs. This may include the need of either picture or letter charts to help determine the child’s vision. A retinal picture may be taken to check the health of the eye but also for the child to see what their own eye looks like.
Following completion of the eye examination, the optometrist will present their findings and recommendations. Recall frequency is determined by the child’s prescription and individual needs. In most cases this equates to an annual visit but on occasions some children may need to be seen every three to six months.
Did you know that a registered dispensing optician is the best person to help you choose spectacles for your child?
At Fiona Watts Optometrists, only a qualified Dispensing Optician will help your child choose a frame that fits well and is appealing. We hold a large stock of fun, funky and fashionable frames. Additionally, our Dispensing Optician can arrange to have a frame ordered from our distributors if they feel it would be more suitable.
Our skilled dispensing opticians can help you make an informed choice of lenses to best suit your chosen frame and prescription. There is a wide variety of lenses available. Some children will benefit from thinner lenses, while others will want stronger lenses and well-designed frames that make it safe to play all sorts of sports.
With the increasing use of mobile phones, tablets, computers and screen time, blue light lenses are beneficial for children as they are designed to reflect a portion of the high energy blue light emitted by these devices. These lenses appear clear but have a very slight residual tint.
Journey To A Clearer Future
Symptoms to look for in your child that could be a cause for concern include:
- Constant rubbing of the eyes.
- Frequent headaches.
- Squinting or screwing up of the eyes.
- Holding objects or books unusually close or far away.
- Excessive blinking.
- Favouring one eye by covering it or tilting their head.
- Eyes that are not aligned or are not working together.
- Red, swollen or encrusted eyes.
- Recurring sties or infections on eyelids.
- Clumsiness.
- Poor performance at school.
- A reluctance to read.
Children’s Eyecare FAQs
There are plenty of things you can do to protect your child’s eyes and keep them healthy as they develop, such as:
- Providing Nutritious Meals; Fruits, vegetables, nuts and fish all provide key nutrients and vitamins that are linked to good eye health.
- Playing With Visually Stimulating Toys; Toys that provide visual stimulation can help improve eyesight, such as ‘mobile toys’ that hang over a baby’s crib.
- Protecting Their Eyes From the Sun; Children are especially vulnerable to damaging UV rays if they typically spend a significant time outdoors. Provide your child with UV coated sunglasses and a hat for protection.
- Scheduling Regular Eye Exams; Your children’s eye optometrist can evaluate them to detect any early signs of deterioration of eye vision.
Parents often think a standard eye exam performed at their child’s school is sufficient. However, the only way to properly detect a visual problem or eye condition is through a comprehensive eye examination. Here at Fiona Watts Optometrists, we use a range of equipment and techniques to detect visual problems at any age.
Your child’s ability to read to their potential fully at school is an important skill. We find at Fiona Watt Optometrists, many children do not achieve their full potential and suffer problems at school because of challenges with the visual skills required to read effectively.
We can provide additional support and examinations for those children that suffer from visual symptoms associated with Dyslexia. We have a separate clinic for this, please speak to one of our experienced and knowledgeable team for further information.
In addition to a full eye exam assesses, a school vision assessment includes the following:
- The speed of the child’s reading.
- The overall clarity of reading.
- The dominant eye – for better reading skills.
- Assessment of how the work together – muscle balance.
- Any issues or difficulties experienced at school.
- Eye alignment whilst reading.
- Light sensitivity.
- Colour preferences.
The progress results of school vision can help your child in a number of ways including:
- Better school, test and examination performance.
- Increased reading and fluency speed.
- Increased self-esteem/confidence.
- Increased concentration levels.
- A reduction of overall tiredness and anxiety levels.
The NHS does not cover the additional costs relating to school vision. There is an additional fee for the School Vision assessment.
