Whilst ophthalmoscopy is a routine procedure for an optometrist, the bright lights may not be readily tolerated by all children. It is therefore important to build trust prior to the procedure. You can reassure the child by telling them that you will do your best to keep them as comfortable as possible and that they can let you know when they need to pause. This way, you are not saying that nothing will hurt, but that you are going to support the child and acknowledge their feelings. 

I find it extremely rewarding to engage with children in a clinical setting, especially when the parents do not take for granted that their child will cooperate well. Assessing children is not always easy, but with the right approach, most children can be assessed successfully. Children often thrive when there is a relationship of trust, when they know what to expect and when they enjoy the activities.

Assessing children in a paediatric eye clinic is something I really enjoy. Assessing children with complex needs is even more rewarding as it requires more creativity and ‘thinking outside the box’. It may not always be possible to achieve sustained cooperation and fixation from children, and therefore, good preparation is key.

Visual loss, double vision, discomfort and sensitivity to bright lights: What can be done about this?

‘I sometimes see things on the floor, only when I look beyond it. Why is that?’

Skin - Hair - Eyes

More people with diabetes - More diabetic eye disease - More sight loss:

What is your least favourite part of a routine eye examination? Many people would say it is the puff of air, which measures eye pressure to screen for glaucoma.

‘I walked into the bathroom and there he was: A frog in my bathtub!’

‘Why do they make the print on packages so difficult to read these days?’

Have you been diagnosed with a macular condition? Are you feeling isolated? Are you keen to meet others with macular conditions?

Have you ever caught yourself moving closer to the TV, turning on some extra lights or wishing the newspapers would use better quality print? Are you struggling to recognise your friends across the street?

Does your brain understand what your eyes are seeing?

Have you experienced problems with vision after stroke? Do you find it hard to explain to others what is going on with your vision? You are not alone!

Can your child see what you are talking about?

Speech processing or visual processing? What is the reason for my reading difficulties?

Autism or CVI?

Do you find yourself bumping into things on one side of your body? Have you got difficulties with text navigation? Do you knock things over on one side? Do you startle when people suddenly appear out of no-where?

Is it true that people with Down's Syndrome see the world differently?

Have you ever wondered why you (or someone you know) find it difficult to cope in busy environments? Or why other people seem to go down stairs with much more ease than you do? Or why you get lost or find it hard to find things? Do you prefer to stick to familiar routines?