Children’s Eye Health

Most children have excellent sight and do not need to wear glasses. However, blurred vision and other eye conditions can be missed in children. In many cases these can be managed easily. The earlier eye problems are picked up, the better the outcome will be.

All children should have a basic eye check as part of the developmental checks carried out by Public Health Nurses before they go to school. There is also a free vision screening for all primary school children in Junior Infants.

However, if you have any concerns about a your child’s eyes, take your child to a local Optometrist.

Do not wait for the Public Health Nurse, or vision screening at school.

A brown teddy bear wearing glasses sits in front of an eye chart, which displays letters of varying sizes. The bear appears to be leaning against a light wooden surface.

About babies eyes

Babies can see when they are born, but their eyes don’t always focus well. A baby’s eyes may squint sometimes (they may not always line up with each other), but if their eyes always seem to squint this should be investigated.

Babies’ eyes develop gradually. After about six weeks they should be able to follow something colourful or interesting with their eyes. They may also smile back at someone.

An easy test you can do at home when your baby is more than six weeks old is to see if their eyes follow you around a room. If they don’t seem to be able to focus on you properly, can’t follow you and recognise your facial gestures, or if their eyes wander when they are looking at you, it could suggest a problem.

You can also try covering each of your baby’s eyes in turn. If they object to having one eye covered more than the other, they may have problems seeing out of one eye. As they get older, you can start to point out objects both close up and far away. If they struggle to see objects take them to your Optometrist.

A smiling baby in a white outfit is lying on their stomach, looking upwards. The background is softly blurred, giving a cozy and serene atmosphere.
Young boy with glasses intently playing on a smartphone. He is wearing a blue plaid shirt and standing against a plain background.

When to take your child for a sight test:

  • There is a family history of needing strong glasses at a young age
  • They have additional needs
  • A squint (where the eyes are not looking in the same direction)
  • A lazy eye (a childhood condition where the vision does not develop properly)
  • Rubbing their eyes a lot (except when tired)
  • Watery eyes
  • Clumsiness and poor hand-eye co-ordination
  • Avoiding reading, writing or drawing
  • Screw up their eyes when they read or watch TV
  • Sitting very close to the TV, or holding books or objects too close to their face
  • Behaviour or concentration problems at school
  • They complain about blurred or double vision
  • Unexplained headaches.
A young child sits in a vision testing chair wearing trial frames for an eye exam. An adults hands adjust the frames to fit properly. The child looks ahead with a slight smile.

Common children’s conditions

Ways to protect young eyes

  • Sun protection for eye
    • It’s important to protect your child’s eyes in the sun. Make sure your child’s sunglasses have UV protection. You can also protect your child’s eyes by making sure they wear a hat with a brim or a sun visor in bright sunlight.
  • Control screen time
  • Get outdoors
  • Regular eye examinations