Eyesight is one of the senses we rely on most, and it’s easy to take it for granted until something goes wrong. As parents, keeping an eye (pardon the pun) on our children’s vision from babyhood right through to the teenage years can make a real difference to how they learn, play and settle into school life. Here’s a simple, age-by-age guide to children’s eyecare.
Be Aware of Family Eye History
It’s worth having a chat with older family members about any eye conditions that run in the family. Many eyesight problems are hereditary, so knowing what’s already there in older generations means you can keep an eye out for similar issues in your own children, or plan ahead for eye checks if there’s a history of problems.
I always say I inherited one eye from my Dad, who wears glasses, and one from my Mum, who doesn’t!
Baby Eyesight
Every newborn has a routine eye check shortly after birth, designed to pick up on any obvious issues early on. At this stage, a baby’s eyes are only around 70% developed, so they can’t focus on anything more than about 10 inches from their face. Their eyes also aren’t fully coordinated yet, which is why a young baby’s eyes can sometimes appear to cross — this is usually completely normal and settles as their vision develops.
Tips for Helping Visual Development in Babies
- Have a range of brightly coloured toys for them to look at and play with
- Keep toys within their natural range of focus
- Play hide and seek with them — this helps build visual memory
- Talk to them as you move around or use toys, so they learn to track movement and sound together
The First Baby Eye Exam
The first proper eye exam usually takes place at around 6 months old. An optometrist will check eye movement, look for any eye health problems, and assess whether there’s any excessive nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism.
Alongside this, it’s worth keeping an eye on your baby’s visual development yourself, and flagging anything that seems off to your GP or optometrist rather than waiting for the next scheduled check.
Early Eye Care for Kids
Vision development is most active up to around age 12, so a comprehensive eye exam every couple of years is a good idea during this stage. It’s worth checking with your child’s school to see what eye screening they offer, but bear in mind that school-based checks, while useful, can sometimes miss problems — a full exam with an optometrist will be more thorough.
Adolescent Eye Care
Vision can shift quite a bit during the teenage years, so tweens and teens still need regular eye exams. The most common issue at this age is myopia, or nearsightedness — for example, my own teenager needed glasses after struggling to see the board at school.
Good eyesight matters hugely for learning, since so much of what children take in at school is visual. Screen use for study is also worth keeping an eye on, as long stretches in front of a screen can bring on eye strain.
If your child plays sport at school where there’s a risk of eye injury, it’s worth asking their coach or school what precautions are in place, and whether protective eyewear is recommended — much like we’d expect goggles for swimming.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should my child have their first eye exam?
Most optometrists recommend a first proper eye exam at around 6 months old, even though a basic check happens at birth.
How often should children have their eyes tested after that?
As a general guide, a comprehensive eye exam every two years is recommended up to around age 12, and regular checks should continue through adolescence, since vision can change quickly during the teenage years.
Are school eye checks enough on their own?
School screening can help catch obvious problems, but it isn’t a substitute for a full exam with an optometrist, who can check for issues a quick screening might miss.
What are the signs my child might need glasses?
Common signs include sitting close to the TV or board, complaining they can’t see clearly from a distance, squinting, or headaches after schoolwork or screen time. If you notice any of these, it’s worth booking an eye exam.
Can too much screen time affect my child’s eyes?
Extended periods of screen use can contribute to eye strain in children and teens, so it’s sensible to encourage regular breaks alongside good eyecare habits generally.
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- Screen Time Guidelines: Finding the Right Balance for Your Family
- Back to School Health Checklist: What to Sort Before Term Starts
- Simple Ways to Encourage Healthy Habits in Kids
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