If children aren’t confident during play, it may have something to do with their eyes.
Vision problems could be stopping New Zealand children from fully engaging in sport and play – and it’s a growing problem, according to an experienced Specsavers optometrist.
Andrew Yu, Optometrist Director at Specsavers Takapuna in Auckland, says good eye health is foundational to kids’ confidence when playing games or sport.
“But the incidence of myopia (short-sightedness) in Kiwi children is becoming a bigger issue and is affecting how some kids take part in activities like sport that need good distance vision.”
The Australia and New Zealand Child Myopia Working Group estimates that more than a third (36%) of children across both countries have myopia – a figure forecast to rise to 55% by 2050. Yu says this trend matches what Specsavers optometrists are seeing, with more children in younger age groups – around four to five – presenting with eyesight issues.
He says it’s concerning because it can affect how kids play games and sport. “Good vision improves a child’s confidence in their performance and enhances their ability in factors like coordination, movement, speed, peripheral vision and the ability to focus on and track objects such as balls. If a kid is exhibiting shyness at playing, it may be because they are having trouble seeing a ball, for instance.
“With summer here, kids want to be able to fully participate in outdoor activities and being able to see properly is key for them,” he says. “Being outdoors helps maintain eye health as well; at Specsavers we advise they spend at least two hours a day in natural light – and in summer especially, always wear sunglasses.”
That’s why Yu encourages parents to have their child’s eyes checked once a year from preschool age – a simple step that can make a big difference to their confidence and enjoyment of sport.
Specsavers offers free comprehensive eye tests annually to Kiwi children under 16.* “An eye test should be part of the list, just like a visit to the doctor or a physio or how parents buy new sneakers and sport uniforms for the new year – eye health is that important.”
“We can help parents identify vision issues early, reduce the financial barriers to care and make the process easy and stress-free. This will also support children to thrive on the sports field and beyond,” says Yu. “Myopia can make it difficult to see scoreboards, boundary lines and even the ball.”
Alongside research from the Australia and New Zealand Child Myopia Working Group, experts say many children with eye conditions go undiagnosed because early symptoms can be easy to miss.
Yu believes part of the problem is that, unlike adults, children may not be aware they have an eye problem at all. This is especially true for younger kids, who may find it difficult to explain the difficulties they are having with their eyesight.
He says there are certain signs parents should look out for: a child might start saying they have blurred vision, complain of headaches, struggle to see a ball, or avoid activities like reading or playtime games.
“There are non-verbal signs too – squinting or rubbing eyes a lot, or reading and watching a screen up close can be indicators of a potential eyesight issue.”
Yu says poor eyesight can sometimes make children less keen to play sport – which may mean they end up spending extra time on screens.
“It’s likely a combination of things,” he says.
“When we first see children who’ve been recommended a prescription, many are a little shy about having to wear glasses, but when we see them for a follow-up, we notice their confidence has improved and their parents are happy. It’s nice to witness.”
Specsavers includes an advanced 3D eye scan (OCT or Optical Coherence Tomography) as part of every standard comprehensive eye test at no additional charge to help optometrists detect eye conditions in their early stages.
For more information or to book an eye test visit www.specsavers.co.nz/book/location to find your nearest Specsavers store.
*At Specsavers, all kids under the age of 16 get a free eye test. This applies to comprehensive eye tests only, valued at $60, and excludes contact lens examinations and visual field checks.