Over half of Gisborne children have never taken an eye test

EYEING A BRIGHT FUTURE: Shaun Harden undergoes an eye exam. Children aged 15 and under receive a free eye exam every two years at Specsavers. Picture supplied

THE education and wellbeing of over 2682 Gisborne children could be at risk, with as many as one in four suffering from an undiagnosed eye condition, says Specsavers Gisborne optometrist Nick Whittingham.

This comes as new research from the company reveals that more than half the children in Gisborne have never had an eye test (58 percent).

This is despite the recommended age for a first eye test being three-years-old.

“It’s concerning that up to 6222 Gisborne children have never had an eye exam because vision and eye health can have a major impact on children’s development, not just on their education but on sports and social interactions as well,” said Mr Whittingham.

He wants to encourage parents to prioritise their children’s eye health.

“It’s vital that we remind parents about the importance of regular eye exams because early detection of any eye condition is critical.

“With children we have a window of opportunity before they are eight-years- old to identify and treat common eye conditions such as myopia and lazy eye, which can have no obvious symptoms.

“Almost half of parents who have not taken their child for an eye test (45 percent) think there is nothing wrong with their child’s eyes.

“It’s disturbing that parents aren’t taking their child for regular eye exams because they don’t think here’s anything wrong with their sight or assume their child’s eyes are healthy.

“Most young children find it hard to explain the difficulties they are experiencing or may be unaware they have a problem at all. Even if parents aren’t seeing symptoms, as we often find with our customers, they should still take their child for an eye exam every two years.”

Cost may also be a barrier for some parents, with one in four New Zealanders not prepared to pay more than $20 for an eye exam.

Children aged 15 and under receive a free comprehensive eye exam every two years at Mr Whittingham’s company.

It is part of the Our Kids Go Free programme, which is about ensuring every Kiwi child has access to high quality eyecare.

Over the past 12 months Specsavers optometrists across New Zealand have tested the eyes of more than 44,000 children and more than 75 percent of them have required a prescription to correct a vision problem.

“Prevention is better than cure and an eye exam will not just check for any potential vision problem, but also detect potential abnormalities or diseases before it’s too late,” said Mr Whittingham.