Children’s Eye Tests & Expert Pediatric Eyecare in Bridge of Allan
Give your children the gift of clear vision
Good eyesight is essential for childhood development, learning and overall well-being. At Blink we specialise in making eye examinations a fun, stress-free and engaging experience for children of all ages.
Why Regular Eye Examinations are Essential for Your Child
Research shows that one in five school children have an undetected eye problem. Children often don’t realise their vision isn’t clear, therefore they rarely complain. We recommend a full assessment for all children under the age of 16 at least once a year
Signs your child may need an eye test:
Screwing up their eyes or squinting to see.
Frequent headaches or tired eyes after school.
One eye turning in, out, up or down (Strabismus).
Excessive eye rubbing or rapid blinking.
Avoiding close tasks like reading, writing or drawing.
Difficulty with hand-eye coordination (e.g. catching a ball).
Struggling to keep up with school work or losing their place while reading.
Children should have had a basic screening check at nursery, prior to starting school, but it is recommended they should have a full NHS eye examination too. The earlier a problem is detected, the more effectively it can be treated.
What to Expect During a Children’s Eye Test at Blink
We believe eye tests for children should feel like an adventure, not an ‘examination’. Our independent practice on Henderson Street is equipped with child-friendly technology to ensure a thorough check-up. Laura and the team take a patient, “no-rush“ approach, ensuring your child feels comfortable and curious.
A Comprehensive Check of Vision and Health
Our thorough 30-45 minute assessment is designed to be engaging while covering every aspect of your child’s ocular development:
Vision Accuracy - we check their level of vision for both near and far distances. This ensures they are seeing clearly and that both eyes are working well together - ruling out a ‘lazy’ eye' (amblyopia).
Eye Tracking & Focus - we assess their eye movements, checking how well they can track an object and how well their eyes can converge to focus on close-up tasks like reading.
Alignment Check - we verify there is no ‘turn’ or ‘squint’ present which is vital for balanced visual development.
Advanced Perception - we test their colour vision and depth perception, ensuring they are meeting key developmental milestones.
Full Health Screening - we check their overall eye health using child-friendly technology, including a slit lamp, special focusing lenses and retinal cameras to see the back of the eye clearly.
Specialist Care: Myopia Management & Visual Stress
Myopia Management
Myopia (short-sightedness) is a disease that can affect a child’s life today and increase the risk to future eye health. Blink is a specialist center for Myopia Management in Stirling. We offer advanced solutions, such as MiYOSMART lenses and MiSight 1 day contact lenses , designed to slow down the progression of short-sightedness and protect your child's future eye health.
Visual Stress
Visual Stress (sometimes called Meares-Irlen Syndrome) is a neurological condition that can make reading a struggle. It is particularly prevalent in children with Dyslexia, often causing physical discomfort and visual distortions. The use of specific colours has been found to significantly alleviate these symptoms. At Blink, we provide comprehensive Visual Stress testing, including Overlay Assessments and Colorimetry. By determining the precise tint that calms the visual cortex, we can improve your child's reading comfort, speed, and confidence.
Frequently Asked Questions
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While some children receive vision screening in nursery or school, we find the service provision is patchy and some children get missed. The eye examinations we do at Blink are a much more comprehensive check of ocular health as well as determining whether glasses are needed.
The Association of Optometrists recommend that all children have an eye test around the age of three, as many eye problems can be treated more effectively if they are picked up early. Using child-friendly techniques, we can detect issues even if your child doesn't know their letters yet, ensuring they have the best possible start to their school years.
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Typically, the eye examination lasts about 30-45 minutes. We take a “no-rush” approach to ensure your child feels relaxed and curious througout.
We ensure there is plenty of time for questions, and of course plenty of time to explore our range of frames if required.
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The comprehensive eye examination itself is fully funded by the NHS for all children under 16 (and under 19 in full-time education) in Scotland.
However, at Blink, we pride ourselves on providing the highest standard of clinical care. We highly recommend our Advanced Retinal Imaging for all our young patients. This hospital-grade technology (including 3D OCT and Optomap scans) allows our optometrists to see much more of the retina than a standard NHS test.
While the standard NHS test is free, there is a small additional fee for these advanced scans. We believe this is a worthwhile investment in your child's long-term eye health, as it allows us to create a digital baseline of their eyes to monitor for any changes as they grow. We will always discuss this with you before proceeding.
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No - we can adapt our test and use pictures rather than letters if your child is too young to read a letter chart. We can use a range of techniques and modern equipment to detect visual problems at any age.