Good vision is essential in childhood development and regular eye examinations are the key to good vision.
A child may not realise if their vision is not clear – they assume the way they see is normal. Therefore regular eye examinations are advised for all children under the age of 16 at least once a year.
Children should have their first eye examination by the age of four, sooner if any problems are suspected. The earlier a problem is detected, the more effectively it can be treated.
It doesn’t matter if your child is too young to talk or read a letter chart, as we use a range of techniques and modern equipment to detect visual problems at any age.
Such equipment used is a computerised test chart which allows us to use pictures, numbers, shapes as well as letters to check the child’s vision.
We provide free NHS eye tests for all children under 16 and those under 19 and in full-time education. If a child is found to need spectacles, a contribution is provided by the NHS.
When it comes to letting the children play outdoors, most parents know how important it is to wear sunscreen, but the effect that Ultraviolet Radiation can have on their eyes is often overlooked.
Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is always there. All year round, all day, whether it’s winter or summer, in sunny conditions or even on cloudy days when UV exposure can reach 70-75% at ground level. UV radiation actually has several beneficial effects for us including vitamin D production via skin exposure. It also stimulates the production of melanin, your body’s own protection against sunburn that causes a tanned complexion.
However, if your unprotected skin is exposed to UV radiation for a prolonged period, it can cause damage such as photo ageing, wrinkles, and in severe cases, skin cancer.
Your child may have experienced painful sunburn after a day spent outside – a direct result of prolonged UV exposure. However, UVA and UVB are also known causes of skin cancer3 and eye diseases, and children are more susceptible to UVR damage for several reasons:
As mentioned already, the crystalline lens of a child’s eye lets more harmful UV rays through than the crystalline lens of an adult eye does. The sun can cause severe damage early on even though it may only present itself later in life in the form of cataracts (responsible for 48% of blindness worldwide) or photoageing.
Children should have their first eye examination by the age of four, sooner if any problems are suspected. The earlier a problem is detected, the more effectively it can be treated.
It doesn’t matter if your child is too young to talk or read a letter chart, as we use a range of techniques and modern equipment to detect visual problems at any age.
Such equipment used is a computerised test chart which allows us to use pictures, numbers, shapes as well as letters to check the child’s vision.
We provide free NHS eye tests for all children under 16 and those under 19 and in full-time education. If a child is found to need spectacles, a contribution is provided by the NHS.
When it comes to letting the children play outdoors, most parents know how important it is to wear sunscreen, but the effect that Ultraviolet Radiation can have on their eyes is often overlooked.
Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is always there. All year round, all day, whether it’s winter or summer, in sunny conditions or even on cloudy days when UV exposure can reach 70-75% at ground level. UV radiation actually has several beneficial effects for us including vitamin D production via skin exposure. It also stimulates the production of melanin, your body’s own protection against sunburn that causes a tanned complexion.
However, if your unprotected skin is exposed to UV radiation for a prolonged period, it can cause damage such as photo ageing, wrinkles, and in severe cases, skin cancer.
Your child may have experienced painful sunburn after a day spent outside – a direct result of prolonged UV exposure. However, UVA and UVB are also known causes of skin cancer3 and eye diseases, and children are more susceptible to UVR damage for several reasons:
As mentioned already, the crystalline lens of a child’s eye lets more harmful UV rays through than the crystalline lens of an adult eye does. The sun can cause severe damage early on even though it may only present itself later in life in the form of cataracts (responsible for 48% of blindness worldwide) or photoageing.
We know how important it is to have a spare pair of glasses when you’re young. Thats why you get free prescription lenses in any spare pair of frames you purchase. Ask us for more details
