Lack of screening puts kids at disadvantage

Inadequate eye screening and testing for school children leaves them disadvantaged in the classroom, a Northern Ireland practitioner has warned parents and teachers.

At the launch of its School Vision project, timed to coincide with National Eye Health Week, Michael Gilsenan of Lee Opticians said children were missing out in the classroom because of poor eyesight.

A number of educational difficulties can be directly linked to eye problems, he said. 'These generally go undiagnosed due to lack of awareness by parents and teachers.'

Research shows that one in five children in Northern Ireland has an undiagnosed vision problem and the region is known to have a high incidence of hypermetropia, a particularly difficult condition for parents to spot.