2nd June 2003
CHILDREN NEED EYE TESTS
As many as two million children may have undiscovered eye problems, a leading charity claims.
The Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB) has released the shocking figures to coincide with the start of Children's Eye Health Week. Research carried out by Dr. David Thomson from City University in London looked at eye problems amongst school-age children. He discovered that between 17 and 22 per cent had hidden eye problems, yet a simple eye test could have brought them to attention and, in many cases, the problem could have been quickly corrected.
Anita Lightstone, head of eye health at the RNIB, said, "Children rarely tell their parents that they can't see as they don't realise they have a sight problem. But a free eye test at your local optician can help diagnose a problem."
She added that, "Some common conditions such as short and long sigh, eye muscle co-ordination problems and most lazy eyes can be corrected, and glasses are not always necessary."
Tell-tale signs of poor vision include blinking more than usual, signs of irritation when doing close-up work, sitting very close to the TV or holding objects close to eyes, headaches after reading or playing computer games, complaints of itchy or irritable eyes, and distraction and difficulty making friends.
In order to tackle problems more quickly, the RNIB has called on the government to make eye testing compulsory for children aged five, seven and 11 years old.
Where to next?- Have you had your child's eyes tested? Share your thoughts, in our Your Shout discussion forum
- Read previous news about the need for more sight tests
- Visit the RNIB website
- Chat to other mums on the Babytalk discussion forum