Staffordshire optician says it's vital young children have regular eye checks

There's a warning to parents across Staffordshire and Cheshire that not taking a child for regular eye checks could put their health seriously at risk.

Experts advise testing children’s eyes before they reach school age will help prevent issues escalating.

New research reveals on average a child in the UK is 5 years old before they have their eyes tested with 1 in 5 parents relying solely on the sight screenings that take place in school.

Experts warn that parents should have their toddler's eyes check far sooner as the visual system is at its most malleable as it develops between the age of 3-7.

If a problem such as a lazy eye is not corrected during this important window of the eyes’ development, the vision in the affected may be permanently impaired.

John Stevenson is an optometrist at Stevenson Jones Opticians in Newcastle-under-Lyme. He told Hits Radio News: "Whilst eye disease is much lesson common in young people there are still many conditions we need to look out for in the young.

"It's just important to get them used to coming in and to get them checked every 12 months.

"The process can be very similar to how an adult would have an eye check, but we can do things quite differently. For example if a child can't read letters we can use pictures or cuddly toys if they're very young."

Vision development begins in the womb and continues throughout childhood and adolescence, and changes in vision or eye health can hinder a child in developing necessary visual skills and cause developmental delays. And there are some eye conditions that can only be corrected when the eyes are young. A lazy eye, for example, if not detected early enough will never be treatable.

John Stevenson added: "Quite often people think their child seems to be able to see absolutely fine but it's important that is checked, for example a lazy eye, you would not automatically pick that up and whilst there are some things you can do as children get older, it's a lot easier to deal with that when they're young."

Stats suggest 60% of parents wish they had their own eyes checked earlier in life with nearly a quarter (23%) unaware children’s sight tests are free.

The research, commissioned by the College of Optometrists, reveals 21% of parents have only had their child’s eyes checked at school. This means they may miss potential issues that would be picked up at an in-depth eye test at the opticians which is much more comprehensive as it checks both vision and eye health. These are often done too late, once an issue has already developed and is beyond repair.

Nearly half (49%) of parents reveal that they believe their child's eyes would have been permanently affected without issues picked up on a sight test.

Not realising the importance of having a sight test early (35%) and getting their eye’s checked in primary school once (21%) were the most common factors noted.

Parents also admit that if they were told their child’s eyesight was fine at school once, they believed this and didn’t need to think about it again (20%).

Ensuring children’s eyes are checked regularly from an early age will help in detecting and preventing problems that could cause long-term damage to their vision. Eye tests are free for children under 16 and the process is both simple and pain-free.

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