As a parent, I understand what it is like to take your child to a doctor or another health care professional. Your main concerns are that you want your child to cooperate, and that you are given the opportunity to ask questions and understand what is going on.

Some children find it easy to trust a practitioner in a clinical setting. Other children hesitate to interact with a stranger. There are many reasons why a child might struggle. For example, a child may find entering new surroundings or meeting new people daunting. Or a child may be reminded of previous negative experiences, making them feel anxious.

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.