PARENTS are being urged by an Acomb optometrist to get their children’s eyes tested regularly so a range of vision problems can be picked up and treated promptly.

Ruth Perrott claimed taking children to see an optometrist or optician was just as important as the routine trip to the dentist, or to get their feet measured.

“This should ideally happen around the age of four, or even before, as problems detected this young can be corrected more easily,” she said.

“The sooner that vision problems are detected, the better the outcome.

“Many childhood eye conditions, such as lazy eye and squint, can be treated if they are picked up early – as the eye and visual system are actively developing during the school years.

“If vision problems are identified and treated, it can make a difference that lasts a lifetime.”

She was speaking out in support of a new campaign by the Association of Optometrists, which is encouraging parents not to overlook their children’s eye health this summer and to include a sight test in their back to school routine in September. Organisers said statistics showed that up to one million children in the UK would return to school in the autumn with an undiagnosed vision problem.

Bob Hughes, chief executive at the Association of Optometrists, said: “It’s an absolute public health disgrace.

“There are problems which can be corrected in young people’s eyes and yet it’s a buried issue, an unknown issue, that children are losing out on a good education because they can’t see properly.”

He said NHS Sight Tests were free for all children under the age of 16, and parents could take their children along to a local optometrist for a free NHS Sight Test.

“Optometrists in the community are qualified to examine the eyes of all children, paid for by the NHS.

“Help towards the cost of glasses is also available on the NHS for all children. Toddlers and young children do not need to be able to read, as an eye examination can be carried out using pictures.”

For more information about the children's eye health campaign, visit www.aop.org.uk/childrenseyehealth, email childrenseyecare@aop.org.uk or call 020 7202 6659.