Children’s eye tests

Your child's eyesight, looked after properly

Children rarely tell you their eyesight has changed — mostly because they don’t know any different. A child who’s been slightly short-sighted for months might never mention it, simply because they assume everyone sees the world the way they do.

That’s exactly why regular eye tests matter so much for children, even when nothing seems wrong.

Why eye tests matter for children

Good vision plays a huge role in how children learn, play and develop — far beyond simply being able to read the board at school.

We recommend children have their first eye test at around 3–4 years old, and then regularly throughout childhood. How often they should be seen depends on their individual needs, and we may recommend more frequent appointments if we’re monitoring something such as myopia progression.

Learning and reading

An uncorrected vision problem can make reading and schoolwork more difficult and may sometimes look like poor concentration or a lack of interest.

Confidence and participation

Children with undiagnosed vision problems may struggle with sport, avoid certain activities or appear hesitant without anyone realising that their eyesight is contributing.

Long-term visual development

Conditions such as a squint (strabismus) or lazy eye (amblyopia) are particularly important to identify while a child’s vision is still developing.

Catching problems early

Regular eye examinations can identify changes before a child ever complains that their vision is blurred.

What to expect

We make children’s eye tests relaxed and comfortable rather than intimidating.

The examination is adapted to your child’s age and ability. For younger children, we can use pictures and age-appropriate techniques rather than relying on a conventional letter chart.

Your child doesn’t need to know their letters or numbers to have their eyes examined.

We adapt the eye test to your child, not the other way round.

Specialists in childhood myopia progression

Short-sightedness (myopia) is increasingly common in children. Myopia means that distant objects appear blurred, but there’s more to it than simply needing stronger glasses each year.

In many children with myopia, the eye grows longer as they develop. The amount and rate of this growth are important because higher levels of myopia are associated with an increased lifetime risk of certain eye conditions.

That’s why at Farmilo Optometrist, we don’t just rely on checking your child’s glasses prescription.

Has their glasses prescription changed?

Measuring eye growth with the Topcon MYAH

We have invested in the Topcon MYAH, which allows us to measure your child’s axial length — the physical length of the eye from front to back.

Axial length is one of the most important objective measurements we can use when monitoring childhood myopia.

By recording this measurement and comparing it over time, we can build a much clearer picture of how your child’s eyes are actually growing.

This gives us information beyond simply asking:

Instead, we can monitor the eye itself and use axial length measurements alongside your child’s prescription and other clinical findings to assess myopia progression.

What if my child's myopia is getting worse?

If we identify progressing myopia, we don’t simply prescribe stronger glasses and wait to see what happens the following year. We can discuss evidence-based myopia management options designed to slow the progression of childhood myopia.

The most appropriate approach depends on your child’s age, prescription, eye measurements, rate of progression and individual circumstances.

We can then monitor their progress over time, including repeat axial length measurements where appropriate, so that treatment decisions are based on objective clinical information.

Who should book a children's eye test?

A children’s eye examination is particularly important for:

And remember — your child doesn’t need to have symptoms to benefit from an eye test.

Children approaching school age who haven't yet had a full eye examination
Children whose glasses prescription keeps increasing
Children with a parent or family history of myopia
Children who squint or struggle to see things in the distance
Children who sit unusually close to the television or hold books and devices very close
Children experiencing difficulties at school where vision could be contributing
Children who already wear glasses and are due their next examination

Children's Eye Tests & Myopia Management in Leicester

At Farmilo Optometrist, we take children’s vision seriously.

Our approach combines comprehensive children’s eye examinations with specialist myopia assessment and modern technology such as MYAH axial length measurement, helping us monitor not just how your child sees today, but how their eyes are developing over time.

Book your child's eye test

If your child hasn’t had a recent eye examination, or you’re concerned that their short-sightedness is increasing, book an appointment with our team.

Already concerned about increasing short-sightedness?