About your eyes

Sometimes the developmental process goes wrong and the eyes do not develop as they should. Generally, if there are any problems, the sooner they are dealt with, the better.

Babies and toddlers’ eyesight is normally screened as part of their developmental checks. Our optometrists use a number of techniques and child-friendly tests to assess your child’s eye health and function. Although a more accurate assessment can be made once the child can recognize shapes and letters, an eye examination can be performed for any age. If there are any eye problems in the family, especially among brothers and sisters, or if you have noticed anything unusual, have your child’s eyes checked as soon as possible.

During the first 12 years of our lives, up to 80% of our learning is visually based. Many children struggle at school, simply because of eyesight related problems. We have to remember that what a child sees is ‘normal’ for them and may not realise that others can see clearer. There are a few tell-tale signs you can look out for eg does your child sit close to the TV, do they rub their eyes repeatedly, do they complain of headaches or blurred vision, do they squint? Have your child’s eyes assessed at your nearest branch of Moffatt Optical and minimize the possibility of an eye defect causing a problem.

As children get older, turning into young adults, they become more fashion conscious and become more active. In most cases contact lenses can be considered as an alternative to spectacles, especially for occasional use. Modern contact lenses are comfortable and healthy for the eyes, and could be the solution for an active lifestyle!

Throughout our lives our bodies are continually growing and replacing cells. The same is true for the eyes. Generally our eyesight and prescription details remain relatively stable, with only subtle changes over time. Because of this, an eye examination is suggested every 18 months to 2 years. At certain points in our lives, such as during pregnancy, changes to the body can cause changes to the eyes, and can be easily explained. Sometimes, the eyes appear to change for no reason. If you do notice any changes to what you can see, how your eyes look, or how comfortable they feel, have them checked out.

The natural aging process means that the eyes do not function the same throughout all our lives. Around the age of 40, everybody’s eyesight begins to alter. You find close tasks harder to focus on and have to push things further away. You need more light to be able to read and you may even find yourself getting headaches when reading. This is a perfectly normal process called Presbyopia and is caused by the natural lens in your eye not being able to flex as it once did, causing near vision to seem blurred. It is easily solved by using reading specs or specs with “Office” or multifocal lenses.