Children’s eyecare

Young children cannot give us reliable answers to questions like "which is clearer, this or this?" that we use with older children and adults.

Instead, we must use:  

• Specialist equipment designed for small children who may find it difficult to sit still or follow instructions  

• Objective testing methods that don't rely on the child's responses  

• Advanced child-friendly examination techniques  

• Longer appointment times to ensure thorough assessment  

• Our paediatric-trained optometrists have the specific training and experience needed to perform these specialist examinations accurately.  

Whilst major eye problems can often be identified relatively easily, other common childhood conditions require specialist assessment:

• Squints (strabismus) - when the eyes don't align properly  

• Lazy eye (amblyopia) - when one eye doesn't develop normal vision

• Longsightedness (hypermetropia) - which children can often hide by over-focusing  

These conditions need careful, expert evaluation to diagnose accurately in young children

A cycloplegic refraction is a special type of eye test that uses eye drops to temporarily relax the focusing muscles inside the eye. This is considered best practice for young children and allows us to measure your child's true optical prescription without interference from their focusing ability

We particularly recommend this test if your child:  

• Is having their first eye examination  

• Complains of headaches Has a family history of squint (eye turn)  

• Has a family history of amblyopia (lazy eye)  

• Shows signs of vision difficulties  

This test is also considered best practice to confirm all first-time diagnoses of short sightedness (myopia) in children, as they can sometimes appear short-sighted due to poorly controlled focusing when they may not actually need glasses, or may need a different prescription than initially appears.  

If eye drops are needed, we will explain the process to both you and your child. The effects will wear off within a few hours. The examination will take longer than a standard adult eye test and will be conducted in a child-friendly, relaxed manner.

If your child needs glasses, our specialist paediatric dispensing service ensures they receive perfectly fitted, comfortable, and durable frames and lenses suited to their lifestyle and age. Our team will guide you through the entire process, making it as stress-free as possible for both you and your child.

If your child needs glasses, our specialist paediatric dispensing service ensures they receive perfectly fitte

When booking your child's appointment, please inform our reception team if your child is under 5. This ensures we:  

• Allocate sufficient appointment time  

• Prepare any specialist equipment needed  

• Have a paediatric-trained optometrist available  

If you have any concerns about your child's vision or eye health at any age, please don't hesitate to contact us.

d, comfortable, and durable frames and lenses suited to their lifestyle and age. Our team will guide you through the entire process, making it as stress-free as possible for both you and your child.

At Peepers Opticians, we pride ourselves on our clinical expertise in paediatric eye care. From specialist examinations for the youngest patients to our expert paediatric dispensing service, we provide comprehensive care tailored to children's unique needs.  

Investing in a private paediatric eye examination for your child ensures they receive the thorough, expert assessment that this critical stage of visual development requires.  

We look forward to welcoming you and your child to our practice for their first eye examination.