Greater attention needs to be given to children’s vision, believes the profession, as a recent survey by Mumsnet reveals that visits to the optometrist are lower down the agenda than dental visits. It found that 9% of parents saw no reason to take their child to the optometrist unless an issue is flagged up as a cause for concern.
Mumsnet, the social media platform used by nine million parents each week, reflected on a comprehensive review of five years of parental and carer conversations about children’s vision and eye health, along with the subsequent survey of 1008 people from its national group: "It's clear from what Mumsnet users have told that there is a huge amount of confusion around children's eye health, and while dental check-ups are a priority, eye tests often aren’t.
"Our survey shows that many parents are confused about when and where to seek eye care for their kids, and they would welcome clearer information and better access to support. It’s essential that families receive the guidance they need to look after their children’s vision. Our survey demonstrates the desire for parents to do the best they can for their children,” said Rhiannon Evans, Mumsnet Head of Communications and Public Affairs.
The needs for regular visits to the dentist scored10% higher than the need for regular optometrist appointments, even though children are eligible for free eye examinations on the NHS while in full time schooling.
Increasing childhood myopia
This relaxed parental view of eyecare comes at a time when childhood myopia is increasing, and with half of the population expected to be myopic by 2050. Apart from the social and educational problems caused by poor vision there are longer term aspects which are not widely known. Even low levels of myopia predispose a person to serious ocular conditions later in life, particularly in relation to detached retina, cataracts and glaucoma.
The survey was commissioned by the UK optical community – the Association of British Dispensing Opticians (ABDO), the College of Optometrists and the Optical Suppliers’ Association (OSA). The group has concerns about a lack of a cohesive plan for screening children.
Confused picture for parents
The data mining and survey revealed a confusing picture where parents are seeking clear guidance on:
- If regular school screening takes place
- If myopia screening in school is adequate
- When a child should first be seen by an optometrist
- Where to go for issues with the child’s vision or eye health
- Understanding about myopia control
Health visitors, parents, grandparents and carers are being urged to recognise the importance of regular eye examinations when a child is aged between three and four, or earlier if there are concerns, and thereafter, at regular intervals.
Myopia management
With a broad spectrum of dispensing options available – in both glasses and contact lenses - to manage the development of myopia, parents are seeking guidance. The vast majority of respondents feel myopia management treatments should be freely available: 83% believe both tooth decay and short-sightedness treatments should be fully funded by the NHS.
In the open comments section of the survey – which gathered an unprecedented level of engagement for a Mumsnet survey - many referred to the sacrifices they are having to make to fund myopia control eyewear: “My son wears myopia management glasses and we are hopeful that he won’t get eyesight as bad as mine. We have been able to afford this pair but I worry about future glasses and I’d love to be able to afford a spare pair. Because his main glasses are myopia glasses and his prescription sunglasses are not, we tend to over prioritise the glasses even on sunny days. I’d prefer to not have to do this.”
Busy A&E departments
The national survey also revealed that the majority of parents would take their child to often busy hospital A&E departments rather than a High Street practice in cases of an optical emergency.
Sun Protection and Sports Eyewear
Ignorance about protecting children’s eyes from strong sunlight was also an issue highlighted, with just 35% of children who need glasses having prescription sunglasses. Even fewer have prescription swimming goggles (13%) or prescription sports eyewear (6%) to encourage their involvement in sport and team activities.
In the open comments, cost was mentioned as a barrier to getting children prescription sunglasses/goggles: "The question about whether my child needs prescription sunglasses, prescription swim goggles, etc. – yes, of course she does. However, at a £100 each, it would be prohibitive."
Others commented:
- "I work in a secondary school as a teaching assistant and am always surprised by the amount of students that complain they can't read the board yet don't have glasses and have never been tested. Also, there are students who do have glasses, but refuse to wear them in school."
- "It is very upsetting that eye tests in schools have stopped. Both my children have eye conditions and if I hadn’t taken them to the optician myself they would have been missed. I know of other children with eye conditions which have been missed."
- "I feel that lens thinning should be readily available free of charge for children. My son is +11dioptres and without thinning glasses would be much too heavy for his small face and would also make his eyes look huge which could affect him socially and emotionally. Glasses for him are a medical necessity and it is not right that we should have e to pay to access them."
- "I don’t think it is generally well known / advised that people should bring their children to the opticians from a certain age."
Max Halford, ABDO clinical and policy director, said: "It has been a great experience collaborating with Mumsnet and its members. The insights gained from both the initial data mining and the follow-on survey will enhance our ability to target messages about children’s eye health with greater precision.
"While many parents understand the importance of regular visits to their High Street opticians, there remain areas where confusion persists around broader eye health. Both dispensing opticians and optometrists are in a strong position to help address these gaps in knowledge, providing crucial support to parents and ensuring the best possible long-term eye health for children.
"ABDO and the College of Optometrists are fully aligned in their commitment to ensuring that children visiting High Street practices across the UK receive the highest standard of eyecare. Through our collaboration with Mumsnet, and with the support of the Optical Suppliers Association, we now have valuable data to identify areas where parents are unsure about children's eye health. This data will enable practice teams to step in and provide clarity where needed to reassure parents and help them make the best possible decisions about their children's eye health."
Roy Stoner, OSA Chair agreed: “We have never been better equipped to support children with vision correction and myopia management. For school, sport and leisure time a child’s vision is vital to their development. Sadly, we have seen from the five years’ of Mumsnet conversation data mining and survey results that many children are slipping through the net. Until now there has been widespread confusion amongst parents as to the recommendations for eye examinations. We are confident that with the support of Mumsnet many more children will benefit from the care of the profession in the months ahead.”
Dr Gillian Rudduck MCOptom, President of The College of Optometrists, said: “The research with Mumsnet has given us clear insights into perceptions of and understanding about the importance of child eye health among parents across the UK. Being able to see clearly is critical for children’s overall development, and going for regular eye tests is essential to ensure that children can see as well as possible and to detect and manage any eye conditions. Along with ABDO and the OSA, we’re sharing clear advice for parents on when, where and how regularly to take their children for eye tests, and raising awareness that optometrists at high street optical practices should be their first port of call for eye health treatment and advice.”
