The importance of back to school eye tests

Post on 30th August 2024

As the new school year approaches, parents are busy checking off their back to school to-do lists. New uniforms, fresh stationery and shoes are all common priorities. However, there’s one crucial item that often gets overlooked – the eye test.

As experts in eye care, with more than 85 years of experience, at Scrivens Opticians & Hearing Care we have surveyed 100 of our customers with school-aged children to find out if eye health was on their back to school agenda.  Here’s what we discovered and why your child’s eyesight should be a priority:

Eye Tests Matter

Did you know that up to 80% of learning is visual? This makes excellent vision crucial for your child’s academic success. Unfortunately, many parents underestimate the importance of regular eye check-ups. In fact, our survey revealed that eye tests ranked low on parents’ priority lists, second only to haircuts.

The Rising Concern of Myopia

There’s a growing concern among eye care professionals about the increasing number of children requiring glasses due to myopia (short-sightedness). Surprisingly, 65% of parents surveyed were unaware of this trend. This is particularly worrying given that:

• 61% of parents expressed concern about their children’s screen time during holidays
• One in four children spend up to four hours daily on screens
• 70% of parents believe this screen time impacts their children’s vision

Bejal Karavadra,  Professional Services Manager and Optometrist at Scrivens Opticians & Hearing Care, said: “We are definitely seeing more children requiring prescription glasses for mypoia, but we know there are many falling between the gaps. Although increasing the amount of time children spend outdoors may help prevent or delay the progression of myopia, children’s eyes are continuously changing, and you rarely see the signs until it’s quite advanced. Regular eye tests are essential throughout their education, with the school holidays being an ideal time.”

Signs Your Child Might Need Glasses

Keep an eye out for these top five signs that your child might need glasses:

• Complaining of headaches
• Problems reading
• Regularly rubbing their eyes or complaining of dry eyes
• Sitting too close to the television
• Squinting

Making Eye Tests Fun and Accessible

To help young visitors feel more comfortable, Scrivens has created an engaging animated comic strip to explain the eye test process. Remember, the NHS offers free eye tests for all children under 16, or under 19 and in full-time education.

As parents, we all want to give our children the best start in life. By adding an eye test to your back-to-school checklist, you’re taking an important step in supporting your child’s learning journey.

Ensuring your child’s vision is tip top lays the foundation for a bright and successful future. Take advantage of the NHS’s free eye examinations for children under 16 or 19 in full-time education and prioritise their visual health today for a better tomorrow.

Don’t let poor vision hold your child back.  Help them see their way to success by booking a free eye test – you will find help and advice on our website or alternatively visit your local Scrivens branch.

If you found these top tips useful, you may also be interested in learning why a digital detox is good for your eyes.