UK: message to parents to protect children's sight

From 6th to 12th September, during the National Eye Week, promoted by Eyecare Trust, with the support of Specsavers Opticians, a campaign, which is being called 'After eight is too late', was launched to British parents because they are neglecting their children's vision.

According to the results of a survey of over 1,100 people, conducted by the Consumer Analysis Group in July 2004, 71 per cent of British parents of children under the age of nine have never and do not plan to take their child for an eye examination. 33 per cent of those surveyed believed they had to pay for an eye examination for their youngsters despite the fact children's eye tests are free on the Nhs.

Specsavers Opticians founder Mary Perkins, commented that the results of the survey revealed a situation that could be potentially harmful to thousands of children across the country, unless their parents took action. 'Eye tests for all children in Britain are free on the Nhs', she said, 'the only investment parents have to make is time. As a child's eyesight is usually fully developed by the age of eight, it is crucial that eye tests are carried out at least once a year from the age of three'.

An Eyecare Trust spokesman added: 'An astonishing 75 per cent also thought that children's glasses would be expensive even though they are available at a relatively small cost - or even no cost - at many outlets. Most parents are unaware that they can no longer rely on their children s sight being checked at school either', he said. 'Vision screening is no longer carried out at regular intervals in many schools and local authorities are continuing to cut the school vision screening programme'.

Chairman of the Eyecare Trust, Iain Anderson, said that poor vision which was not obvious to parents and teachers could severely restrict a child's ability to learn, read, write and spell. 'Undetected vision problems in children are one of the major causes of learning difficulties', he said. 'Conditions such as squint or amblyopia can lead to lifelong problems, so it really is a case of after eight is too late'.

Specsavers and the Eyecare Trust are taking the message into the classroom by providing schools with free activity packs for Key Stage II pupils to help foster an understanding of children's vision.

(Source: Optometry Online)