Schools urged to focus on youngsters' vision

Over 23,000 letters have been sent to primary school head teachers across the UK this month to highlight the importance of children's vision and the need for sight tests at a young age.

The Optical Confederation's Children's Eye Care Initiative letter advises head teachers how poor vision affects children's behaviour and their ability to learn, yet often goes unrecognised by teachers, parents and children themselves.

The letter explains that the sooner vision problems are detected through NHS eye tests the better the outcome, and how conditions such as 'lazy eye and squint' can be treated if they are picked up early.