Many parents ignore children's eye care

Fewer than half of parents said they take their primary school age children (five to 11-year olds) for an eye test at least once a year, according to a poll by Vision Express to coincide with the start of the new school year.

The survey of over 1,000 parents found that children were more likely to be taken to buy new shoes or for a haircut than have their eyes tested. Ninety-one per cent agreed to taking their children for a haircut at least once a year and a similar proportion (89 per cent) said they go shopping for shoes annually.

Of those surveyed, three in 10 (30 per cent) parents said they never take their youngsters to the optician, compared with 5 per cent who said the same about getting their child's hair cut.