The government and opposition exchanged heated comments over the provision of children’s eye examinations in Parliament this week.
Conservative MPs clashed with Caroline Flint, minister of state for the Department of Health, on Labour’s record on encouraging the attendance of young children for eye examinations.
In answering a question from the Conservative MP Douglas Carswell, who noted that 2.8 million children received an NHS eye test last year – less than a quarter of Britain’s 12 million children who are entitled to a free service – Flint commented ‘that does not necessarily mean that all children need an eye test’, and that ‘it would be a waste of money if we expected people to have eye tests when they do not need them.
’Shadow minister for children, Tim Loughton, responded in astonishment: ‘I have to say that that was an extraordinarily complacent answer. If we do not test children’s eyesight, how can we know the extent of the problem?’
He claimed there was a ‘poor’ take-up of eye tests among those of school age, and after their eight-month-old check, only 50 per cent of children have their eyes checked before starting school.
‘So it is more likely that sight defects will emerge as the visual system develops up to the age of seven, which can lead to permanent visual loss and subsequent problems keeping up at school.
’Flint tried to defuse her critics by, in part, using her personal experience.
‘I am incredibly short-sighted and use both contact lenses and glasses, and my children, too, wear glasses,’ she said.
‘As a parent, I acted when the problem emerged, and we must make sure that parents have the right information so that they can act. Pre-school screening will help, but I do not see the sense of paying for unnecessary, full eye tests if they are not required.
’She said that detailed information was given to all first-time parents, and the government hoped to develop an orthoptist-led programme for pre-school vision screening.
In addition she commented that there was an aim for a review of local optical services to give PCTs a greater role in identifying people who do not take up the opportunity to have their children’s eyes tested ‘so they can target communities where such tests are needed’.
Lib Dem MP David Heath – who practised as an optometrist in the 1980s – said although there is a lot of talk about preventive medicine he did not remember a generic campaign on the need for regular eye tests ever taking place.
‘If we wish to make an early intervention in eye disease or an early diagnosis of systemic disease, and if we are concerned about road safety or industrial safety later in life, eye tests are essential. Is it not time that the Department of Health encouraged everyone – and not just children – to have regular eye tests?’
