How to choose a children's optometrist in Hamilton

Most Hamilton practices will book a child in. Far fewer are set up to examine one properly — and the difference is not obvious from a website or a Google rating. Here are the six questions we would ask on a parent's behalf, and our own answers, so you can compare like with like.

1. From what age will you examine a child?

The honest answer at many practices is "school age", sometimes "from about three". A newborn's eye is a developing organ on a schedule, and a large long-sighted prescription, an eye turn or a difference between the eyes is best found early. At Rose we routinely examine children from six weeks of age, and no referral is needed.

2. What equipment do you have for children who can't read a chart?

Ask specifically about Cardiff Acuity Cards, preferential-looking tests and retinoscopy. Cardiff Cards are the standard way to put a real vision measurement on a baby or toddler without a single spoken answer, and a practice only owns them if it has chosen to do paediatrics properly. We use them daily — see our children's eye care page.

3. Do you measure axial length?

If your child is short-sighted, or has a short-sighted parent, this is the question that matters most. Axial length — the physical length of the eye — is what carries lifelong risk, and it is what every serious myopia study measures. A practice that manages myopia from the glasses prescription alone cannot tell you whether treatment is working. We measure axial length with optical biometry at every myopia visit and track it against normal growth curves.

4. Which myopia treatments can you offer in-house?

The evidence-based options are myopia-control spectacle lenses, daily soft contact lenses, overnight orthokeratology lenses, low-dose atropine drops and, for some children, repeated low-level red light therapy. A practice offering one or two will steer you toward what it has. We offer all five and choose with you, based on your child's age, prescription and lifestyle; a free 15-minute Myopia Chat is the place to start.

5. Who, exactly, will see my child — and what are they qualified to do?

Ask for the optometrist's name and whether they are therapeutically qualified (able to prescribe eye medication). At Rose, children's vision is led by Emilie Lawson and Jagrut Lallu, and all seven of our optometrists — Jacqueline Rowe, Jason Shen, Jessica Wood, Stella Wong and Anjali Hira among them — are therapeutically qualified and examine children. You can read each optometrist's qualifications and interests on our People page.

6. What will it cost?

A children's examination at Rose is $79, or $138 with cycloplegic drops when a behavioural or learning referral calls for them. Myopia management is a yearly programme with the fees published on our myopia management page, so you know the cost before you start. Ask any practice for the same.

If you are comparing practices, ask all six questions of each. If you would like to talk it through first, call us on 07 847 3195 or book a New Child/Student appointment online.

Written by the optometrist team at Rose Optometry, Hamilton.