Bright Eyes vision check on offer throughout the country

Parents across the country have been encouraged to take their children for a special vision check during Bright Eyes Children’s Eye Health Week. (November 12-17)
 
The ‘Bright Eyes 6 point vision check’ has been specially developed by the Association of Optometrists to identify children’s vision problems which are not normally picked up at the school screenings.
 
Bright Eyes takes place from Monday to Saturday (November 12-17) and 230 independent optometrists across the country will be offering the 6 point check free of charge, or at a nominal cost, plus giving help and advice about children’s eyecare.
 
The test is quick and simple, but most importantly is very accurate at pinpointing specific visual problems which children may have.
 
Campaign organisers the Association of Optometrists Ireland (AOI) said the slogan for this years campaign is ‘Be who you want to be’ as identifying eye conditions early helps to minimise problems which effect people in adulthood and helps to inform career choices.
 
AOI Optometric Advisor Lynda McGivney-Nolan said that seven is the ‘golden age’ before which to identify eye problems.
 
“If you identify a lazy eye, or other conditions, before the age of seven, proper management in a timely fashion can often reduce or even reverse the problem. Or If colour blindness is identified it means that certain professions such as being a pilot or electrician would not be suitable for a child and parents can account for this at school.”
 
During Bright Eyes week optometrists will be visiting schools to talk to parents, teachers and pupils about the importance of healthy eye sight and answer any questions about children’s eye care.
 
Optometrists are trained to examine children’s vision and are ideally located within the community to provide quick and effective access to children’s eye care.
 
Optometrists urge annual HSE children’s eye test
 
Launching Bright Eyes, the AOI also called on the HSE to introduce a free annual sight examination for all school children, as Ireland trails far behind the rest of Europe when it comes to the provision of children’s eye exams. 
 
The AOI proposed that rather than have children waiting on long lists to access appointments with an Eye Doctor, that any child who fails the school screening should be referred to their local optometrist in order to prioritise the children who need rapid access to the specialised care.
                                                                          
“This would eliminate lenghty waiting lists, manage children who have straightforward needs and ensure that children who require more complex management are referred to the appropriate eye care specialists without delay.”
 
“In the current system all that is offered is a basic school screening which, if carried out at all, is first done at the age of five or six. If a child is suspected of having a vision problem, he or she must join a waiting list of up to two years in some parts of Ireland to gain access to a free examination. By the time a child is finally treated, it is often well after the target age of seven and too late.
 
“Also the current school screening only picks up really obvious vision defects and does not pick up the vision problems most commonly associated with learning difficulties. Children with more serious vision problems can slip through the net with their eye condition undetected. This has been shown to contribute to learning difficulties, often accompanied by behavioural issues,” Ms. McGivney-Nolan said.

More information on Bright Eyes and participating Optometrists at www.optometrists.ie.

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