Parents in Somerset are being urged to prioritise their children's eye health.
Opticians in the region say the half term break is the perfect time to book kids in for eye exams, which can detect issues early and support long-term sight and learning.
Rebecca Donnelly, clinical director at Millicans and Mansfield in Wells, said: "We can’t stress enough how vital it is that children have regular eye exams.
"Many children will not be aware they have problems with their vision, so it may go undetected, meaning that valuable time to treat and support them is lost.
"In addition, vision issues can impact children’s development and learning.
"Our warm, welcoming approach helps to reassure children who may be feeling anxious about their first eye exam, so they’re happy to return."
Experts recommend that children have eye tests every one to two years starting from age three or four, as advised by their optometrist.
Eye exams can identify a range of conditions, including childhood cataracts, lazy eye, myopia (short-sightedness), hyperopia (long-sightedness), and colour blindness.
Early detection can lead to effective treatment and better outcomes, and appointments for eye exams can be booked at bookaneyetest.co.uk.
A recent joint report by the Association of British Dispensing Opticians, The College of Optometrists, and the Optical Suppliers’ Association revealed that nearly one in 10 parents or carers only take their child for their first visit to an optician if and when an eye health or vision issue arises.
Many parents are also unsure where to get help if their child experiences problems with their eyes or eyesight.
Opticians are also encouraging families to spend more time outdoors during the school holidays, as studies indicate that children who spend time outside are less likely to develop myopia.
Time outdoors often means less screen exposure, which can benefit eye health.
A recent study found that an additional hour of daily screen time is, on average, linked to 21 per cent higher odds of having myopia.
Alison Harwood, an optometrist at Optika Opticians in Weston-super-Mare, said: "There are several theories about why spending time outdoors can help to protect against myopia, or why screentime may make it worse.
"One is that sunlight boosts dopamine levels in the eye, which controls the growth rate of the eye.
"Another theory is that shorter viewing distances may stimulate abnormal growth of the eye.
"Families can help support the health of their children’s eyesight by encouraging regular screen breaks and heading outdoors this half term."
Share