Did you know 1 in 4 school-aged children have an undiagnosed visual problem? Or that 80% of a child’s learning is through their eyes? It’s so important to look after their peepers, right from an early age. 

Harry Potter, Where’s Wally, Emma (The Wiggles), Pedro Pony (Peppa Pig); or maybe you remember Chuckie (Rugrats), Thomas J (My Girl) or Mallory (The Babysitters Club)? Can you guess what these characters all have in common? Yup, they all wear glasses.

6 March is Te Rā O Ngā Tamariki - Children's Day, so we’re focusing on kids this month. While we might all know that good vision and eye protection are important; did you know 64% of children’s visual problems go undiagnosed, leaving them struggling during class and sports? 

It’s a timely reminder to have our children’s peepers checked. Luckily, if they do need glasses, there’s a bunch of characters (from past and present day!) in books, movies and TV series, who rock glasses, showing just how rad wearing glasses can be! We’ve also got a list of handy books and resources you can share with your child to get the conversation started. So let’s dive in…

Why should my child have their eyes checked?

Children grow up fast, (way too fast) and with growth spurts, their eyes are prone to changing and developing quickly. So it’s always best to keep an ‘eye’ on young ones as they grow. No matter their age, it’s recommended your child’s eyes are tested regularly from as young as 6 months old, through to school. 

At OCULA, we provide free eye examinations for children aged 6 months through to 2 years old, so you can get on top of their eye health, from the moment they open their eyes.

A child’s vision is vital for their eyes and brain development, as 80% of their learning is through their eyes. Often children aren’t aware they have a vision issue, because they don’t know the difference as they’ve already adapted to their environment. Detecting an eye condition early, can prevent it from progressing by identifying the condition and starting recommended treatment.

Some eye conditions we see in children are:

Myopia (aka short-sightedness) - a common eye condition, seen mainly in children and young adults. Also known as near or short-sightedness, myopia means you can see up close, but struggle to see long distances. If a child is diagnosed in their early, vulnerable years of development, the condition can progress rapidly if untreated and cause long-term damaging effects of their adult eyesight.

Hyperopia (aka long-sightedness) - where objects in the distance are seen clearly, but the eyes find it difficult to focus on objects up close. Mild hyperopia requires a child to work twice as hard (double focus) when reading at a short distance. An inability of the eye muscles to cope with the added stress, results in poor word definition and impaired reading.

Amblyopia (aka Lazy eye) - one of the most common causes of visual problems in young children; where the brain “turns off” or ignores the input from one eye. But it’s not actually the eye that’s become lazy, rather it’s the pathways of the brain that process vision. In some complex cases, amblyopia can happen in both eyes.

Take a look at our Children's Vision page for more info, or book an appointment with one of our optometrists if you are concerned about your child's vision.

What do I do if I’m concerned about my child’s vision?

It can be overwhelming just thinking about your child having a visual or learning impairment. Don’t worry, we’re with you every step of the way - from assessment, to diagnosis and treatment. 

If a child is struggling to grasp the basics in reading and writing, it can affect their self-esteem, behaviour and of course, their ability to learn. Here at OCULA, we have Behavioural Optometrists who look for vision problems and vision-related learning difficulties. They use engaging, interactive and non-invasive assessments, whilst ensuring your child feels comfortable throughout the experience. Our team will also go the extra mile to explain your child’s vision and any issues with them, in their language.

We take a collaborative approach - using a network of educational psychologists, doctors, healthcare professionals, speech-language and occupational therapists - who we can call on to help. Together, we’ll create a tailor-made plan of action for your child’s health and educational needs. Whether you think they may have myopia (short-sightedness) or dyslexia, we can offer the advice and support you may need. 

We recommend parents bring their children in once a year for a check-up appointment, to track their eye development and give you peace of mind.

Book an appointment here.

So, how do you get kids excited about their eyes?

Spectacles, glasses or corrective eyewear, whatever you call them;  we know it can be hard work to get kids excited about appointments, or the idea of wearing glasses or contacts. While we adults might see getting glasses as a fun chance to accessorize, it can be daunting for kids. They may not want to stand out, or look different to their friends or classmates, as being different can be scary and lead to being teased by the other kids. They may also feel the loss of control over how they look and not getting to decide whether glasses are something they want to wear.

We’ve created a list of the best resources we could find, to help create conversations about your child’s eyes and eye health; and to identify and understand any feelings about having an eye exam or getting glasses. Whether your child is a fan of The Wiggles, Charlie and Lola, Dr. Seuss, Peppa Pig, or none of the above; there’s something for everyone. Don’t worry, we’ve got you.

So if you’re struggling to get your little (or not so little) one excited about the thought of wearing glasses, here’s some resources to help:

There’s also a bunch of characters (from books, tv series etc.) who just happen to wear glasses. Like Emma from The Wiggles or Harry from Harry Potter. It can help for children to see more and more characters/people/animals they love wearing glasses, to help normalise them. Here’s one list for starters.

Book an appointment

We have clinics in Christchurch, Queenstown and Wanaka and can test each of the 17 different visual skills a child needs to perform at their best.

Book your child in for an appointment today.