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What to do if you think your child is Visually Impaired
If you believe your child to be visually impaired then you should arrange an appointment to see your General Practioner (GP). Your GP can discuss your reasons for feeling that your child may have visual impairment and then perform an initial eye examination. If based on this assessment your GP feels a further examination would be helpful then this can be arranged.
The GP may initially suggest a local optometrist to performs a further assessment. The optometrist will assess your child’s vision, check to see if spectacles are needed and examine the eyes for any cause of poor vision. If the optometrist agrees that the vision is reduced then he or she will recommend to the GP to arrange an appointment at the local eye clinic.
Alternatively your GP may choose to arrange a referral directly to the local eye department. At the eye clinic usually an orthoptist will perform an assessment of your child’s vision. An ophthalmologist will then listen to your reasons for feeling that your child may have visual impairment and ask some further questions about your child’s general health. Drops may be placed into your child’s eyes to make the pupils become bigger. This will allow the ophthalmologist to perform a full examination of the eyes. At the end of the examination the ophthalmologist will discuss the results of the assessment. Depending on what the ophthalmologist found during the examination further tests might be organised, spectacles may be prescribed, a further appointment arranged or the child may be discharged.
It may be that reduced vision was detected at a screening examination performed by the school nurse or orthoptist. If this occurs then arrangements will be made for a second assessment either at the local GP surgery or eye clinic. If the reduced vision is again confirmed then an examination by an ophthalmologist will be arranged usually at the local eye clinic.