Children needing glasses. An information guide

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1 TO PROVIDE THE VERY BEST CARE FOR EACH PATIENT ON EVERY OCCASION Children needing glasses An information guide

2 Children needing glasses The voucher system Children are entitled to an allowance towards the cost of glasses. The amount depends on the strength of the lenses. The allowance is written in the box on the front of the prescription as a letter, which is called the voucher type. If two pairs of glasses have been ordered the allowance is available for each pair. Most opticians will show you glasses that are paid for completely by this voucher. If you choose a more expensive frame or you want thinner lenses you will have to pay the difference. If you are not happy with the selection you are offered, you are entitled to try other opticians before you decide which frames to choose and hand over your prescription. Important note The prescription/voucher is valid for repairs or replacement of the glasses for 12 months from the date of the eye test. If the glasses break or get lost or scratched, go back to the optician where you got the glasses and they will repair or replace them. After daily use glasses may begin to slide down your child s nose, it is important to return them to the optician for free refitting to ensure the child is looking through the centre of the lens. 2

3 Frequently asked questions about the eye examination How does the specialist know my child needs glasses? Before your child has their eye examination a nurse will put some drops in their eyes (Cyclopentolate 1% or Phenylephrine 2.5%). Children with particularly dark eyes will need more than one drop. These drops take about 30 minutes to take effect, they enlarge the pupil and relax the focussing muscles so that the specialist can accurately measure the eyes for glasses. How long do the drops last? The effect of the drops starts to wear off after about one hour but pupils may be enlarged for up to 24 hours - sometimes longer. Near vision/schoolwork can be affected and in some children distant objects may be blurred. Children will be light sensitive (sunglasses and a peaked cap will help) and occasionally flushing of the skin around the eye area may be noticed for a short period of time. What is long sight/ short sight/ astigmatism? To see clearly light entering the eyes needs to focus sharply on the back of the eye (retina). Long Sight Some children have eyes that are too short which means that the light focuses behind the retina. They have to focus more than normal sighted children do, particularly on things that are close up like schoolwork/computers. Short sight When a child s eyes are too long the light focuses in front of the retina, this means they cannot see things that are far away such as the TV or the board at school. 3

4 Astigmatism In addition to being long or short sighted your child s eyes may have an irregular shape like a rugby ball rather than a football. This affects vision at all distances as light rays are focussed in more than one place in the eye so you don t have a clear image. Should my child wear their glasses all day? In most cases the answer is YES as this allows your child to get the maximum benefit from the glasses. Whether a child needs glasses or not is because of the size and shape of their eyes. Wearing glasses will not change their eye shape, and will not make their eyes worse. Will my child always need glasses? This will very much depend on your child, their age, the strength of the glasses and whether they are needed as part of the treatment for a squint. Every child is different. As children grow their eyes change and we will check your child s need for glasses regularly. Helping your child to get used to the glasses Glasses may feel strange and children often say they can see better without the glasses at first. This is a common complaint in the early days of wearing glasses as the eye and brain have to learn to work together with the glasses. It can take a few weeks to adapt so please persevere. Schools and nurseries can be a great help in encouraging your child to wear the glasses. The orthoptist will send you an appointment in a few weeks to check your child s progress with their glasses. 4

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8 If English is not your frst language and you need help, please contact the Ethnic Health Team on Jeżeli angielski nie jest twoim pierwszym językiem i potrzebujesz pomocy proszę skontaktować się z załogą Ethnic Health pod numerem telefonu For general enquiries please contact the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) on For enquiries regarding clinic appointments, clinical care and treatment please contact and the Switchboard Operator will put you through to the correct department / service Date of publication: April 2014 Date of review: April 2017 Ref: PI_(SU)_834 The Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust Wood pulp sourced from sustainable forests