It's a good idea to arrange for your child to have an eye test at around the age of three. A child does not have to be able to read to be tested for eye defects such as long and short sight, astigmatism (a rugby ball shaped eye which leads to blurred vision), squints and lazy eyes.

It is important to detect squints and lazy eyes early as unless these conditions are treated by the age of eight years then it may be too late to prevent a permanent problem. Squints affect four to seven per cent of children and lazy eyes two to three per cent.

Long sight can be easily corrected with spectacles and often improves as a child nears adulthood. Short sight affects around ten per cent of young people and often occurs between the ages of eight to ten years. Again, glasses are the simplest means of correction but contact lenses might be considered in the early teens.

There's no truth in the belief that wearing glasses makes eyes worse and there's no point struggling on in a haze. Reading, social skills and co-ordination will all benefit from being able to see properly.

Since children's eyes change rapidly we recommend a pre-school eye examination and a regular check-up every six months, especially if there is a family history of eye problems.

The NHS will pay for a child's eyes to be tested and if they need spectacles will help with the cost. At Rawlings it is possible to have a completely free pair from our great range. Of course, we also have a really cool collection of brand names if you prefer to pay a little extra.