Add eye test to back to school list

SHEPPARTON parents are being urged by health experts to include an eye test for their children on their back-to-school list.

New research released last month suggests that parents are not treating their children’s eye health as a priority, despite increased screen time which can lead to digital eye strain.
Specsavers estimates that in 2020 as many as 24,972 children between the age of 5-20 in the Shepparton area may have missed an eye test because of the Coronavirus pandemic.

However, new research has found that although eye health was reported as a concern across all parents, this concern has not translated into them seeking professional advice.
Nearly 20 percent of parents or caregivers in Victoria are not seeking advice when their child has experienced or complained of an eye issue which could be detrimental to eye health, impacting their ability to learn.

There was a disparity between older and younger parents, with younger parents taking a much more preventative approach to their child’s eye health than the older age group, possibly due to the increased uptake of screens in younger children. This is potentially putting the children of older parents at a higher risk.

“Virtual and screen-based learning means children and teens alike are spending more time on their laptops and tablets than ever before, and I’ve noticed a significant rise in the number of children presenting with digital eye strain,” Specsavers Shepparton optometrist, Chris Mouser, said.

“We recommend parents bring their child to see an optometrist for a routine eye test now that school has gone back. An eye test for your child should be a part of that back-to-school checklist, even if you aren’t concerned about any changes in their vision or they don’t wear glasses.”