One in four children could be at risk of an undiagnosed eye condition, Specsavers has warned.
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The research, conducted by Specsavers, indicates that 230 children in Stawell have never had an eye test.
The recommended age for a first eye test is three years old because some eye conditions can be detected at that age.
After the first eye test, the general recommendation is for an eye test once every two years.
“Early detection of any eye condition is critical but 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,” Specsavers Stawell optometrist and store partner Michael Peter said.
With nearly 30 per cent of children in Victoria having never had an eye test, Specsavers’ conducted research into why Victorian parents aren’t taking their child to the optometrist. They found:
- 37 per cent of parents admitted they’d never really thought about getting their child’s eyes tested.
- 25 per cent of parents thought their children were too young to get their eyes tested.
- 47 per cent of parents haven’t taken their child for an eye test because they thought there was nothing wrong with their child’s eyes.
An undiagnoised eye condition “can severely impair a child’s education and wellbeing,” Mr Peter said.
“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”.
Eye tests in Australia are bulk billed under Medicare.
Mr Peter said “we want to encourage local residents to get their own eyes and their child’s eyes tested, not just to check for any potential vision problems, but also to detect any potential abnormalities or diseases before it’s too late.
“Prevention is better than a cure.”
