At birth your baby will be screened for several serious eye conditions. If there are any concerns, they will be referred to an eye specialist. Your Well Child/Tamariki Ora provider will check your child's vision at regular intervals from 6 weeks to 5 years of age.
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Eye checks for children
Key points about eye checks for children
- All children in Aotearoa New Zealand are eligible for a number of eye checks from birth through to 12 years of age as part of the Well Child/Tamariki Ora service.
- Your child will also have their distance vision checked at school when they are 11 or 12 (Year 7).
- If the screening picks up a vision problem, your child will be referred for a full assessment.
- If you have concerns about your child's vision or hearing at any time, take your child for an assessment.
- Finding a vision problem as early as possible is good for their learning and development.
![Small girl wearing straw hat and reading glasses](/assets/Health-A-Z/Eye-topics/Small-girl-wearing-hat-and-glasses-canva-950x690-1.png)
The B4 School Check is the final Well Child/Tamariki Ora check before your child starts school. Most of the check is carried out by a B4 School Check nurse, but vision and hearing technicians will test your child’s eyesight and hearing. The eye check screens for lazy eye (amblyopia).
To find out how to contact your local B4 School Check coordinator, visit the B4 School Check website(external link) or phone Plunketline on 0800 933 922.
![Child getting eye test at optometrist](/assets/Health-A-Z/Eye-topics/Child-eye-exam-canva-950x690__ResizedImageWzYwMCw0MzZd.png)
Image credit: Canva
Your child will have their distance vision checked at school when they are 11 or 12. If the screening picks up a vision problem, your child will be referred for a full assessment.
It is important to remember that screening tests will not pick up all vision problems, and may not tell you if your child needs glasses.
Please contact your healthcare provider for advice if you or your child’s education provider has concerns regarding their eyesight. Symptoms of visual problems may include frequent headaches, screwing eyes up or tilting head to see, clumsiness or difficulties with reading and learning.
Apps reviewed by Healthify
You may find it useful to look at some Baby care apps.
Glasses subsidy
The Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora has a child spectacle subsidy(external link)(external link) for glasses, managed through Whaikaha Ministry for Disabled People.
The spectacles (glasses) subsidy can help with the costs of your child’s:
- examination
- frames
- lenses
- eye patches
- repairs.
You may be eligible for the subsidy if you or your child has a current community services card (Work and Income) or a high use health card (Health NZ | Te Whatu Ora).
Hearing and vision checks(external link)(external link) KidsHealth, NZ
Well child/Tamariki Ora schedule(external link)(external link) Plunket, NZ
B4 school check – key contacts(external link) Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora
Childhood vision development(external link) Patient Info, UK
Apps
Resources
Keeping an eye on your child's vision (B4 School Vision Screening)(external link) HealthEd, NZ, 2023 English(external link)(external link), te reo Māori(external link)(external link), Chinese (simplified)(external link)(external link), Chinese (traditional)(external link)(external link), Hindi(external link)(external link), Korean(external link)(external link), Samoan(external link)(external link), Tongan(external link)(external link)
Children’s spectacle subsidy(external link) Enable New Zealand
Referral for a full assessment (B4 School Vision Screening)(external link)(external link) HealthEd, NZ
National vision and hearing screening protocols(external link)(external link) Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora
Well Child/Tamariki Ora programme practitioner handbook(external link)(external link) Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora
Revised B4 School Check vision testing(external link)(external link) Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora
Apps
Brochures
Children’s spectacle subsidy
Enable New Zealand, 2023
Credits: Healthify editorial team. Healthify is brought to you by Health Navigator Charitable Trust.
Reviewed by: Dr Arna Letica, FRNZCGP, Auckland
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