Facts about your Child’s Vision
- Children are initially born with poor vision in both eyes and they need a clear, focused image in both eyes if their sight is to develop normally.
- If the child needs spectacles or has a squint (when the eyes are not lined up together) and this is not treated before the age of seven to eight, the child may have permanently reduced vision (amblyopia). The sooner the child is treated, the better the prospects are for normal vision.
- A lazy eye (amblyopia) can also be caused by a big difference in prescriptions between eyes or congenital cataracts. This may be less obvious than a squint and is most cases only picked up during eye examinations.
- About 2-3% of all children have a squint or a lazy eye.
The incidence of myopia or short-sightedness is increasing and although a previous eye examination may have concluded that your child did not need spectacles however this situation can change.
1. Wearing glasses will make your eyes worse.
NO! Wearing spectacles simply helps you to see clearly and comfortably. If a child needs spectacles when young, not wearing them may do them permanent harm as they may develop a lazy eye.
2. Children’s glasses
NHS spectacles no longer exist. Instead the NHS pays a contribution towards the cost of any spectacles.
3. My child can see, so I know they are all right.
Children may not notice that they have vision worse in one eye than the other. And even if they do notice, they may assume it is normal. After all they can write better with one hand than the other, so it is not unreasonable for them to assume they should be able to see better with one eye than the other