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New research from Specsavers reveals that 66% of parents in Wales say their young children don't like medical or health appointments, while 38% say their child was worried before their first eye test. Concerns included fears it might hurt (33%) and uncertainty about what would happen during the appointment (33%).
The research comes during National Eye Health Week and also highlights that over half of parents (55%) in Wales report symptoms in young children that could indicate eyesight-related issues, including:
Specsavers has therefore partnered with leading child psychologist Professor Sam Wass, an expert on early years development, to help alleviate appointment anxieties and encourage more eye tests in young children.
Sam has revealed that children are often nervous during new health scenarios because young brains are wired to be cautious of unfamiliar situations.
"It's completely normal for children to feel nervous about healthcare appointments, especially when they're doing something for the first time," said Professor Wass. "But these check-ups play a crucial role in supporting healthy development. Correcting vision early can improve learning outcomes and have a real impact on education, confidence and wellbeing."
Among parents who have taken their child for an eye test in Wales, 50% promised a reward or treat afterwards to help ease nerves, while 17% explained what the eye test would involve.
Specsavers' new initiative, 'No Scaries in Sight', also gives parents and kids access to a free, interactive online activity. The "sight prompt" activity is fronted by some friendly, reassuring "Optomonsters" and aims to get families thinking about how their child is seeing the world, while making the first appointment feel like a familiar step rather than an unknown one.
Jill Campbell, Specsavers Head of Clinical Performance, commented: "We know that anxiety around health appointments is a real concern for many parents, and eye tests are often viewed as daunting. That's why we've created the Optomonsters characters and our interactive online eye prompt – to help children feel more comfortable and confident about attending their appointment. Early eye tests are vital and, significantly, they're NHS funded for under 16s.
"Eye tests can help identify issues that might otherwise go unnoticed and impact a child's learning and development. Our campaign aims to remove the fear factor and show families there really are 'No Scaries in Sight'."
Professor Wass has partnered with Specsavers during National Eye Health Week (21–27 September 2026) to share his top tips for helping children stay calm during potentially daunting health appointments.
Young brains work by predicting what happens next, then updating when reality differs. A child with no prior experience of an eye test has nothing to predict from, so everything is a surprise – and surprise is what the brain treats as threat. Playing optician at home, taking turns in the chair, gives them a rough script to run. By the time they arrive, the room has stopped being unknown and started being recognisable.
Most parents describe the sequence of events and stop there. But children's own accounts of what they want to know are strikingly consistent: will it hurt, will I feel scared, and what can I do to stay calm. Sensory information – the chin rest is cool; the room goes dim – prevents the unexpected sensation that turns a manageable moment into a frightening one.
One thing that drives anxiety – in children as well as grown-ups – is not feeling in control. Letting a child make choices about small details – which chair, which order, whether you hold their hand or they hold yours – can shift an experience from feeling like something is being done to them to feeling like something they are doing. Keep the choices real and narrow; a choice you'll overrule is worse than none.
Distraction has the strongest evidence base of any psychological technique for children's medical procedures – but it works best with a goal attached. Give the job before the anxiety starts rather than after, and make it specific enough to have an answer.
This is the most counterintuitive finding in the field – and the most useful. When parents repeat "it's okay, don't worry," children rate their parents as more frightened than when parents distract them. Heavy reassurance can signal that there is something here worth being reassured about. Say less and say it lightly.
Waiting areas can be the hardest part: bright lighting, echo, screens, strangers, no clear sense of timing. You can't redesign the waiting room, but you can arrive close to the appointment time rather than early, sit somewhere quieter, and make sure the child knows what time it is and how long you will have to wait.
More warning is not always better. Tell a three-year-old a week ahead and they'll probably forget. For preschoolers, the day before or the morning of is usually right; older children can do better with more notice. Match the amount of detail to how much they are actually asking for.
Parents can visit specsavers.co.uk/kidstests to book a free eye test and help ensure their child is ready to see, learn and thrive.
