Thousands of children in Britain could be set to start the new school year this September with eye problems as parents forget to take them for tests
Thousands of British children are expected to struggle in the classroom this year, according to new research, as they continue to study with undiagnosed poor eyesight.
While millions of pupils are preparing for the start of a new term, figures reveal that 23% of parents with children aged four to ten are yet to take their little ones for an eye test. Meanwhile, a shocking 36% of them had no idea that children this young should be having a test before they begin at school.
The research results provided by Asda confirmed that 17% of these parents admit they wouldn’t be able to spot signs of vision problems, while 22% aren’t even sure if their child requires a test at all. Schools in some regions don’t routinely check their children’s eyesight at all and leave it down to the parents to manage independently, the British and Irish Orthoptic Society (BIOS) claims.
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Clinical and Policy Director at the Association of British Dispensing Opticians, Max Halford, said: “Good vision is the foundation of learning and confidence. Children’s eyesight isn’t always checked at school, and screenings aren’t the same as a full eye test. Starting school with undiagnosed vision problems can affect reading, writing, and attention, so a simple eye test before term starts can make a real difference.
“If your child does need glasses, a dispensing optician is trained to advise on the best frame and lenses for their prescription requirements and to take accurate measurements to ensure your child has the best vision possible.” Despite these facts, an alarming 69% of parents admit that their back-to-school to-do list doesn’t include an eye test.
Excuses coming out on top included jam-packed schedules, which 37% admitted to, tricky appointment times were claimed by 30%; and not even knowing if a test was needed by 22%. Another reason comes down to cost for 16% of parents, who don’t quite realise that eye tests are free for under 16s.
With this in mind, Asda are aiming to give parents a gentle nudge and remind families to book a check-up for their children during their weekly shop in store. The supermarket offers free eye tests for under-16s through its in-store opticians.
Kids’ frames include fun character designs such as Barbie, Superman and Harry Potter, as well as prescription sunglasses from as little as £16. Not to mention, lenses come with helpful add-ons such as scratch-resistant and anti-reflective coatings, at no additional cost to parents.
Children under 16 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian during their appointment, and time can be arranged outside of school hours. Stuart Laird, Superintendent Optometrist and Head of Optical at Asda Opticians, explained: “We know the back-to-school period is a busy one, and so we wanted to find a way to make it easy and fun to remind everyone of the importance of children’s eye health and vision.
“Our optometrists, dispensing opticians and store colleagues are here to support patients and their families, making the whole process simple, quick, and stress-free, helping ensure every child has clear, healthy eyesight for the classroom, all while doing the weekly shop.”