Videos for children and young people

Welcome to the Children's Centre at Moorfields Eye Hospital.

When you arrive for your appointment, you will be checked in at the reception desk before being called through to have your eyes checked. Our reception is friendly and you can play there whilst you wait.

When we are ready, we will call you and your parents, or carers, through and we will check your eyes and what you can see.

This is the nurse and she will check your vision. You might wear some special glasses or a patch over your own glasses while we do this. You might read, match or look at some letters, numbers or pictures. This can be a really fun game to play.It's okay if you can't see them, just tell the person who's checking your eyes. You might also play a matching game by pointing to the same pictures on a card.

Not everybody needs this test, but sometimes we might need to measure the pressure inside your eyes with a special handheld machine. It is very quick and you won't feel anything at all. You just need to try and keep your eyes nice and still.

This is the orthoptist. She can check how well your eyes work together. The orthoptist might also check how your eyes move. We will use a light to have a look at your eyes. Don't worry, it won't be too bright.

We sometimes need to put drops into your eyes. They are a bit fizzy and may sting a little, but they are safe. They will make your vision a bit blurry for a while. You might find things a bit bright and need sunglasses or a hat to go home in if it's a sunny day. The drops take quite a bit of time to work. While they are working, you can go back and play in the waiting area.

This is the play specialist. She can show you all the fun toys we have. When your eyes are ready we will look at them and check if you might need glasses.

This is the optometrist. You might wear some special glasses and we will put in or hold some small lenses in front of your eyes. We can tell just by looking. We will also check that your eyes are healthy. We may wear a special hat with a light inside to help us look inside your eyes. We will hold up a big lens in front of your eye to do this. It might be the doctor that needs to see you for this part of your visit. So you may need to wait and play for a bit longer after having your glasses test. Sometimes we might need to use a special machine to look more closely at the front of your eyes.

This is the doctor. He looks through the machine to see your eyes. It is just a light and you can kneel up and hold onto the handlebars. Sometimes you might also need to have some special photographs or measurements taken of your eyes. These are done on another special machine. It is just a quick flash, like having a normal photo taken.

This is the photographer. She is taking the photos. Smile.

If you do need some glasses, you can try some on and choose a pair in our opticians. We have lots of cool frames to choose from.

Well done. That's it. Now you've had your eyes checked, you can go home. We may ask you to come in again soon so we can check how you're getting on.

Before attending your child's clinic appointment your child may need to take some special eye drops. These drops are very important; they will help to enlarge your child's pupil so that the clinician can see into the back of your child's eye.

You may be given single dose eye drops to put into your child's eyes called cyclopentylate eye drops. To give the drops enough time to work you need to start using them before your child's appointment. Only proceed if your child is well and without a temperature.

You need to put one drop in both eyes on the day of the appointment at the time specified by your clinician. Depending on how dark your child's eyes are you may be asked to put in a second drop.

Please remember to wash your hands before and after you put in the drops, and to store the drops out of the reach of children.

Once you have put these drops into your child's eye they may feel their sight is blurry as the pupil is enlarged. This is normal and it may continue for a week, so do let your child's school know as the pupil is enlarged they will also be more sensitive to light. So, if it is a sunny day wear sunglasses or a sun hat.

If you have any problems putting in the eye drops or need further advice please speak to the orthotics department directly on 0207 253 3411.

Before attending your child's clinic appointment your child may need to take some special eye drops. These drops are very important they will help to enlarge your child's pupil so that the clinician can see into the back of your child's eye. 

You may be given single dose eye drops to put into your child's eyes, these will be called atropine eye drops.

To give the drops enough time to work you need to start using them before your child's appointment. Only proceed if your child is well and without a temperature. 

You need to put one drop into both eyes once a day on the three days before your visit. On the day of your visit you do not need to put any drops in.

Please remember to wash your hands before and after you put in the drops and to store the drops out of the reach of children. 

Once you have put the drops into your child's eye they may feel their sight is blurry, as their pupil is enlarged. This is normal, and it may continue for a week so do let your child's school know as the pupil is enlarged they will also be more sensitive to light. So, if it is a sunny day wear sunglasses or a sun hat.

If you have any problems putting in the eye drops or need further advice please speak to the orthoptics department directly on 0207 253 3411

Contact lens insertion

When inserting your child’s contact lens, remove the lens from its container and hold it gently across the middle, between your thumb and index finger. 

Using your thumb, pull up the top lid. It is important to place your thumb as near to the lashes as possible. 

Make sure that the eyelid is dry.  

Place the edge of the lens under the top lid and, using your forefinger, gently push the rest of the lens up under the lid until it sits on the eye.

Pull down the bottom lid and make sure the lens is in place. 

Contact lens removal

When removing your child’s contact lens, place one thumb over the top lid and hold the lid at the very edge on the eyelashes, as if you were inserting the lens. 

Try to make sure that the lid is pressed gently onto the eye, so that the lens cannot slip underneath the top lid. 

Place the other thumb at the edge of the lower lid and pull it down. Making sure that the lid is turned towards the eye.

Gently press on the edge of the lens, that should now be visible, and move your thumbs together to scoop the lens out.

Turning the lid slightly clockwise, or anti-clockwise, at the same time helps to remove it.