UK parents are overlooking their children’s eyesight, with almost 40% of parents of primary school-aged kids admitting they’ve never taken their child for an eye test.
Nearly 70% of parents believe their child’s eyesight is ‘fine’, yet over a third admit they don’t know the danger signs of poor eye health, according to the ICM poll commissioned by Vision Express.
Worryingly, 88% of parents are unaware of the nationally recommended screening age of 5 years. Children under 16 are entitled to free NHS-funded eye tests, so speak to your child’s school or your local optician.
“An eye test can not only reveal a problem with a child’s sight but could also flag up more serious eye conditions, including retinoblastoma, a rare form of childhood eye cancer,” said Joy Felgate, chief executive of the Childhood Eye Cancer Trust.
“Parents are not only risking their child’s health in later life by failing to have their eyes tested from a young age, but also how effectively they are learning in the classroom on a daily basis,” said Sally Polak, from Vision Express.
~ Lara Brunt