Pediatric
Eye care built around children, from early screening through to squint correction and lazy eye treatment.
Children rarely report a vision problem, because they have nothing to compare their sight against. What looks like clumsiness, reluctance to read or sitting too close to a screen is sometimes an eye that is not working properly.
Why children need their eyes checked
A child with one weak eye will usually say nothing, because the other eye compensates and they assume everyone sees as they do. Vision develops through childhood, and a problem left uncorrected during those years can leave a permanent limit on what that eye can achieve later, which is why it is worth finding early rather than waiting for a complaint.
Signs worth an appointment
- An eye that turns in, out, up or down, even occasionally
- Sitting very close to the television, or holding books unusually near
- Tilting or turning the head consistently to one side to look at something
- Squinting, frequent eye rubbing, or persistent watering
- Headaches or tiredness after reading and schoolwork
- Falling behind with reading, or losing place on the page
- A white reflection in the pupil in photographs (this one should be checked promptly)
What we assess and treat
Vision screening and refraction
Measuring how each eye focuses, using methods matched to the child’s age, with pictures and shapes for those too young to read letters. Where glasses are needed, they are prescribed and fitted for a child’s face rather than a scaled-down adult frame.
Squint (strabismus)
An eye that does not align with the other. Management depends on the type and cause, and may involve glasses, patching, exercises or surgery to adjust the muscles that move the eye.
Lazy eye (amblyopia)
One eye develops weaker vision because the brain has learned to favour the other. Treatment works by making the weaker eye work, usually glasses first, then patching or drops to blur the stronger eye. Results are strongly age-dependent, which is the reason for early screening.
What the visit is like
- Nothing uncomfortableThe examination is done with lights, pictures and lenses. Nothing touches the eye.
- Drops, usuallyChildren focus so strongly that their true prescription can hide behind it. Dilating drops relax that focusing so the measurement is accurate. Vision stays blurry for a few hours afterwards.
- Time and patienceAllow longer than an adult appointment. A child who is rushed gives unreliable answers.
Bring what you have. Any previous prescription, current glasses, and a note of anything the school or nursery has raised. Family history matters too, as squint and significant refractive errors often run in families.
How young can a child be examined?
Vision can be assessed in infancy. A child does not need to know letters or be able to answer questions for a useful examination to be done.
Will my child need glasses forever?
Not necessarily. Some prescriptions reduce as the eye grows; others are lifelong. It is reviewed at each visit rather than assumed.
Is patching still used?
Yes, and it remains effective for lazy eye. The pattern and number of hours are tailored to the child, and drops are an alternative in some cases.
My child’s eye only turns when tired. Is that normal?
An intermittent turn is still worth examining. It is the most common way a squint first shows itself.
This page is general information, not medical advice. Findings vary from person to person, and only an examination can tell you what applies to your eyes.