Charity finds lack of support and diagnosis for childhood sight loss

A campaign has been launched by Blind Children UK after it found a significant rise in cases of childhood sight loss.

The charity reported that the number of children being registered blind or partially sighted has increased by 9 per cent since 2006, with the biggest rise – 12 per cent – among those under the age of five.

Its findings, which combined analysis of data held by NHS England, the Welsh Assembly, the Scottish Government, the Northern Ireland Health and Social Care Trusts and the Office for National Statistics, also showed 43 per cent of parents believed delays in diagnosis had affected their child’s development.