It’s definitely a week to think about protecting the vision of children, with the announcement of two new initiatives that highlight possible gaps in both healthcare and awareness.
In Ireland, a group of independent opticians has called for improved eye care for children aged 12 to 16, pointing out that many fall into a gap in services between the end of the School Medical Scheme at 12 and eligibility for adult services at 16. Offering free eye tests for a month, the group has highlighted the need for a reliable and consistent scheme to target teenagers, citing a doubling (10-20 per cent) of that age group needing glasses or contact lenses.
Meanwhile in the UK, the Royal College of Ophthalmologists and the College of Optometrists are backing an initiative to help cut delays in diagnosis of childhood eye cancer. While the Childhood Eye Cancer Trust (CHECT) shows that, in general, opticians correctly refer children with retinoblastoma (Rb), there can be delays in obtaining appointments or a lack of awareness of the signs and symptoms among staff. CHECT wants all practices to adopt its protocol and ensure that no child displaying signs of Rb is turned away without correct information about where to go next.
Ensuring children are screened regularly through school years is vital and there are no excuses for lagging behind. A recent session about paediatric assessment in various areas of the world highlighted that some regions of the UK have less access to childhood vision screening than in the developing world, which really does shine a spotlight on the issue.
