Chris Bennett: Protecting the vision of children is vital

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.