Focus on back to school: Include a free eye test on your to-do list
The summer holidays are drawing to a close and September sees pupils heading back to the classroom. Alongside buying new uniform and stationery, eye health experts advise adding a free child’s eye test on the to-do list as clear vision is crucial to a child’s learning and development.
Research from Optegra Eye Clinic Newcastle shows one in five adults do not realise children even need regular eye tests, yet 96 per cent of UK optometrists say correcting vision in children can have a positive impact on learning and development[1]. In addition, many parents and carers don’t know when and where to get their children’s eyes tested.
“At the end of the summer holidays, it is so easy to focus on school uniform, smart haircuts, PE kits and pencil cases, and easy to forget a really important test – your child’s eyesight,” said Optegra consultant ophthalmic surgeon, Mr. Aamir Ismailjee.
“A simple, quick and free eye test can reassure you that your child’s vision is as good as it can be or glasses can be recommended if necessary. If children cannot see clearly, working with a whiteboard or close-up paperwork can prove to be a huge challenge.”
As symptoms of poor vision can be easily missed, Optegra suggests looking out for these top five signs that your child may need their vision checked:
- Struggling to read or see close-up words
- Squinting or screwing up their eyes
- Sitting too close to the TV
- Eyes not moving together/one eye turning in
- Falling behind with schoolwork
Mr. Ismailjee continues: “Access to eye examinations and free glasses for children and young people is provided by the NHS, and don’t worry if your child cannot read yet as there are a range of age-appropriate tools to accurately check their vision and eye health.
“For small optical prescriptions where both eyes see clearly, glasses are not usually necessary or even advised. In these situations, children should be encouraged to spend more time outdoors in the sun, and less time indoors in poor lighting or using screens close up for long periods.
“However, there are some instances where the prescription may be high, or one eye may not see as well as the other. In these situations, it is extremely important that this is diagnosed and treated early in life to prevent permanent poor vision, what is often referred to as a lazy eye.”
The Department of Health recommendation is that a child’s vision is screened between four and five years old. The effect of uncorrected problems with children’s eyesight can be long-lasting, potentially affecting the ability to read, learn, take part in sports, and ultimately their opportunities and wellbeing later in life.
For more information about the importance of regular eye tests click visit the Optegra website.
Optegra Eye Health Care is a specialist provider of ophthalmic services. Established in 2007, with its first hospital opening in 2008, it has completed over one million eye procedures from its 78 eye hospitals across the UK, Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia and Holland.
As well as providing private vision correction treatments – from lens replacement and laser eye surgery to implantable contact lenses – Optegra treats cataract surgery both privately and through its partnership with the NHS. Optegra also treats medical conditions AMD and glaucoma; and has launched the first ever treatment for people with the Dry form of AMD.
Optegra brings together leading-edge research, medical expertise and state-of-the-art surgical equipment. It performs more than 170,000 treatments annually, both private and publicly funded. Its top ophthalmic surgeons are renowned for their areas of expertise, offering excellent clinical outcomes and great patient service.
[1] Vision of Britain Report, Optegra Eye Health Care, 2017