Many parents in the UK don’t recognise the importance of having their child’s eyes tested from a young age, with almost 6 in 10 (59 per cent) unaware that they need to take their child for an eye test at least every two years.
The survey of 2,000 parents found that a third (33 per cent) wrongly believe that children need to get their eyes tested for the first time when they start school. Alarmingly 12 per cent said children only need to get their eyes tested if their parents wear glasses.
It also highlights that over half of British parents don’t realise that squint and lazy eye can be detected during an eye test and almost three quarters (72 per cent) aren’t aware that spectacles can potentially help straighten a squint. It also found that 75 per cent of parents don’t consider making their child wear sunglasses when it’s sunny.
With 85 per cent of parents admitting to not knowing much about getting their child’s eyes tested, ABDO is stressing the importance of ensuring children get their eyes tested by a registered practitioner.
Jo Holmes, dispensing optician and ABDO board member, says, “It’s never too soon to get your child’s eyes tested. Children can have an eye test before they learn to read, and the sooner some eye problems are picked up, the easier it is to treat them.”
ABDO is advising parents that if child has never had an eye test, or if they have concerns or simply want to know more, to search for EyecareFAQ on Facebook or call into their local opticians.
