Children’s Eyecare
Nurturing young eyes: our child-friendly approach
We understand that your child’s eyesight is precious, so we work to make their appointment with us as comfortable for them (and you) as possible.
We believe that children’s eye exams should be a positive and stress-free experience, which is why we’ve designed our clinic with children in mind.
From the moment you walk in, you’ll experience a calming environment where young patients are made to feel at ease, and where we make their eye care journey a breeze.
What makes See Optometry child-friendly?
We have put a lot of time and research into developing our clinic to be a place where children feel safe and happy during their eye exams:
- Not yet reading? No problem!
Infants and toddlers don’t read or recognise letters, so that’s why our experienced optometrists use specialised, age-appropriate testing methods that don’t rely on traditional letter charts. We effectively assess your child’s vision, ensuring no problem goes undetected, regardless of their age or communication abilities. - A gentle and patient approach
Our team is trained to work with children of all ages, from infants to young adults. We understand that every child is unique, and we take the time to build rapport, explaining things in a way they understand, and move at their pace. We prioritise a calm and encouraging atmosphere, turning what might seem daunting into an engaging experience. - Supporting children with additional needs
We are proud to offer a truly inclusive environment. Our skilled optometry team has special training and experience to support children with developmental challenges, including those with autism. We adapt our examination techniques and communication styles to meet your child’s individual needs, ensuring we deliver a comfortable and effective eye exam for every child.
Beyond routine checks: our specialist eye care treatments
At See Optometry, we don’t just identify vision problems; we offer specialised treatments designed to give your child the best possible visual future. We focus on early intervention and long-term vision health.
Why early detection matters
Undetected vision problems can significantly impact a child’s learning abilities, social interactions, and quality of life.
Eye and vision problems quite often become obvious once children go to school.
Our experience has found that vision problems for school children tend to be more noticeable in Term 2, while older students, particularly those in Year 12, might experience difficulties around exam time in Term 3. And children in the lower grades often struggle in Term 1.
Vision is more than just seeing clearly – it encompasses a range of crucial abilities, including:
- Visual Acuity
Seeing clearly at all distances – for the whiteboard, computer, and reading. - Eye Focusing
The ability to quickly and accurately adjust focus between different distances. - Eye Tracking
Smoothly following text on a page or a moving ball. - Eye Teaming
The ability to coordinate both eyes together for depth perception and efficient reading. - Eye-Hand Coordination
Using visual information to guide hand movements. - Visual Perception
Organising images into letters, words, and ideas, and understanding what’s being read.
If your child has a problem in any of these areas, they have to work much harder to learn, which quite often shows up as headaches, eyestrain, and fatigue.
Signs that may indicate a vision problem:
- Infants
Excessive tearing, red or encrusted eyelids, constant eye turning, extreme sensitivity to light, or the appearance of a white pupil (seek immediate attention for the last two). - Toddlers and Preschoolers
Poor eye contact, delayed milestones, excessive clumsiness, or lack of interest in visual stimuli. - All ages
Frequent eye rubbing or blinking, short attention span, avoiding reading, frequent headaches, covering one eye, tilting their head, holding reading materials close, an eye turning in or out, seeing double, losing place when reading, or difficulty remembering what they read.
Sometimes, the signs of a vision problem can even mimic symptoms of ADHD, which is why it’s so important that your child has a comprehensive eye exam and an accurate diagnosis.
Child’s eye exam frequency
Even if no problems are apparent, regular eye examinations are crucial. We recommend that you bring in your child at:
- Around 6 months old
- Before starting school
- Annually through school life, or more frequently if specific problems or risk factors are present, or if there’s a family history of eye conditions.
