Visit your GP if you notice that your baby or child has a squint, or if you develop a squint. The earlier a squint is identified and diagnosed, the greater the chance of successfully treating it and restoring vision to normal.
Your GP may refer you or your child to an orthoptist. An orthoptist is an eye specialist trained to assess problems relating to eye movements and how the eyes work together.
Routine eye checks
Routine eye checks are carried out:
- at birth
- by the time your baby is 14 days old
- at around six to eight weeks of age
- before your child starts primary school or during their first year
However, if any of these checks do not happen, or if you are concerned about your child’s vision, speak to your GP or health visitor. Sight tests are free for children under 16 years of age.
You can use the find services directory to find opticians in your area.
Sight tests
Your child will have a number of different tests that can help diagnose a squint and assess their level of vision. The type of tests that your child has will depend on their age, but may include:
- looking at a light
- matching letters and pictures
- reading a letter chart
- looking at visual targets, such as a toy, at different distances, first with one eye covered and then the other
If a squint is suspected, your GP may refer your child to an orthoptist or an ophthalmologist (a specialist in eye conditions and their treatments) for further examination.
Your child may have other tests to determine whether they need glasses, such as looking at letters or colours with different lenses in front of their eyes.
The light-sensitive layer at the back of the eye (retina) and the nerve that carries visual messages to the brain (optic nerve) will also be examined to make sure that there are no other problems with them.
In some cases, your child’s pupils may be widened first using eye drops. This will make it easier for the ophthalmologist to examine the back of your child’s eyes.
