PARENTS WARNED TO FOCUS ON KIDS’ EYES
ONE in five children will head back to school with an undetected vision problem, prompting a warning from a peak healthcare body.
Optometry Australia has urged parents to get their kids’ eyes tested to ensure students do not have any undiagnosed eye concerns that could interfere with their learning.
It is advice siblings Tom, 12, and Emily Roach, 9, will be sure to follow, with the pair heading to a check-up before the holidays end.
The two primary school students have also been encouraged to bring their shades to school, so they can have fun on the playground while knowing their eyes are protected from the sun’s harmful rays.
Optometrist Luke Arundel said that while most parents knew the benefits of regular check-ups at the dentist and doctor’s office, optometry visits could fall by the wayside.
“We’re trying to encourage parents to make it part of the routine,” he said.
Mr Arundel said he saw many cases of kids labelled as “inattentive” or prone to bad behaviour but who were really just struggling to see.
“If children can’t focus or read clearly, of course they become disinterested,” he said.
He also listed social and physical abilities as skills which could be affected by poor vision.
“If someone can’t see someone’s face clearly, they can find it more difficult to read those visual clues,” he said.
“Your eyes need to be able to work together efficiently if you want to be good at sport – catching, throwing a ball, judging distance – both eyes need to be able to see clearly.”