After the recent riots that have occurred in various parts of the UK our sympathies go out to all shopkeepers and businesses affected by these goings on. In an already difficult economic climate it was heartbreaking to hear some of the personal stories of those affected and we hope that in the upcoming months they will be able to regain their custom and be up on their feet and running to even greater success in the future.

As things are slowly returning to normal and we hit the halfway point in August it gets to that time the children generally dread when the “Back to School” sales start to appear on TV and in newspapers. Which brings to our attention the subject of children’s eyes and sight. Statistics point out that half a million 5 year olds will also be attending for the first time in their lives and the sad news is – only 53% of the UK’s under 16’s have had a full eye examination.

It is estimated that up to 1 million children will be sitting through their lessons with uncorrected vision problems. Guidelines vary from region to region in the UK. Currently, all 4-5 year olds should have a vision check prior to school entry or as part of the school entry programme (this policy is due to be reviewed but is not expected to change).7 This check is carried out by the school nurse or by an orthoptist, depending on local policy. Most 4 year-olds can co-operate with a test of visual acuity; there are a number of different assessment methods appropriate for young children, varying from picture or shape tests to matching tests and, for those children able to, the Snellen chart. This said, there is increasing scepticism on the value of this test with systematic reviews showing mixed evidence to support its effectiveness.

Screening in school-aged children 6 years and over
There are not currently any national guidelines set out for the screening of these children. The main issue lies in detecting refractive errors. Unnoticed, these can cause a number of problems ranging from the specific problems (e.g. chronic headaches) to underachievement academically. This itself has a very broad impact on the child’s future. However, the benefits of screening at this age are still not clear and, whilst local screening policies should not be changed, it is not recommended that new programmes be set up for this age group.

Here are some tips for parents to be aware of courtesy of the informative website www.allaboutvision.com

If you see your child…..

Consistently sitting too close to the TV or holding a book too close
Losing their place while reading or using a finger to guide their eyes when reading
Squinting or tilting the head to see better
Frequent eye rubbing
Sensitivity to light and/or excessive tearing
Closing one eye to read, watch TV or see better
Avoiding activities which require near vision, such as reading or homework, or distance vision, such as participating in sports or other recreational activities
Complaining of headaches or tired eyes
Avoiding using a computer, because it “hurts their eyes”

If any of the above have been observed then it is time that you take your child for a full eye examination at an accredited optician. It is also worth noting that all children under the age of 16 are entitled to a free NHS eye test. Remember to keep a look out for further updates on our facebook and twitter pages.