Few can deny the importance of identifying weak eyesight at an early age in order to provide correction. Children's eyes are affected mostly by the overall size, shape and growth. Four percent of children suffer squint (an eye turning in or out) preventing full binocular vision. Sixteen percent of children will develop short sight and many more will demonstrate an excess of long sightedness. Some children require eye exercises in order to use their two eyes together without discomfort. Correcting defective sight in children helps their development, aids their education and improves comfort.

Eye examinations for children under 16 years, and those aged 16 to under 19 years and in full time education, are provided state paid through the National Health Service at no charge to the patient and are available from most Optometrists in the High Street.

Some young adults encounter difficulties with the use of display screen equipment when first in the work-place. University students may find visual problems arise in association with concentrated study. An eye examination would reveal whether these individuals require spectacles, eye exercises or general advice regarding their visual environment. Many people become aware of visual difficulties when learning to drive or even at the driving test. All those intending to drive would be well advised to have a sight test.

A multitude of sporting activities are now regularly pursued during leisure time. Defective eyesight can reduce a person's ability to compete and their enjoyment of the activity. Optometrists are able to offer advice regarding optimum visual performance sometimes helping to improve ability by means of exercises and optical correction

Post forty years of age, the human lens within the eye gradually stiffens and the ability to focus upon near objects becomes increasingly difficult. This state is known as presbyopia and results in people requiring reading spectacles. The human lens is an unusual tissue of the body in that it continually increases in size throughout life. Initially the stiffening of presbypoia occurs. Many years later the increased weight and volume of the lens causes structural changes that result in a loss of clarity. These changes finally result in age-related cataract formation. Thus regular sight tests post forty years of age are essential to monitor the well being of the eyes as these lens changes occur.

Throughout life the eye will be subject to innocent changes, initially growth and development, and latterly age-related effects. However, there will be some individuals whose eyes are subject to less innocent changes such as disease process or trauma; for example two percent of the population aged over forty have the pressure related eye condition glaucoma. During a sight test an examination of the health of the eyes will be undertaken to ascertain if there are any adverse ocular conditions present. The eye is often described as the "window of health" and the important message is "If you don't look, you can't find". It makes good sense to have regular sight tests throughout life.