Free eye tests for school children

Specsavers | Screening For Schools
Marta Kalas test one of the schools pupils.
Pupils ar Ravenstone Preparatory School in London try out the 'School Screener EZ' which helps detect potential sight problems in children.
13th November 2015 — Specsavers | Screening For Schools Marta Kalas test one of the schools pupils. Pupils ar Ravenstone Preparatory School in London try out the 'School Screener EZ' which helps detect potential sight problems in children. 13th November 2015

The three-minute screening test, developed by optometrists and vision scientists at City University London, has been shown to detect the most common eye problems among children and the test will be available nationwide from this week.

Through funding by Specsavers, the software, which has been designed to be operated by teachers, is being made available at no cost to all 27,000 primary and secondary schools in the UK.

Following the test, the software automatically generates reports for parents or guardians to help them make informed decisions about their child’s eyes.

Phil Garbe, store director at Specsavers in Halifax, said: “There is still a lack of general awareness among parents and teachers about the importance of regular eye tests.

“We have seen some cases where children have been misdiagnosed with dyslexia, ADHD or learning difficulties when in fact the child simply needs glasses.

“The fact is all children should have regular eye tests from the age of three or four years old.”

Specsavers founder and optometrist Dame Mary Perkins added: “A child’s eyesight will continue to develop right up to the age of eight and a number of eyecare issues can be corrected by an optician if detected before this time.

“Thus the ability to screen children’s vision regularly throughout their early schooling will be very beneficial.”