WITH myopia in children on the rise2, the team from Specsavers in Bethnal Green and Whitechapel have been visiting local schools during June and July to raise awareness around the importance of looking after children’s eye health.
At the request of local primary school teachers, the team were invited to attend parents’ evening at John Scurr Primary School in Stepney Green and Thomas Buxton Primary School in Whitechapel.
As well as speaking to parents generally about the importance of children having regular sight tests, the team also met with them on a one-to-one basis, so were able to chat about children’s eye health and recent research highlighting the increase in short sightedness in children. This was of particular importance as it is estimated that 1.6 million school-aged children are living with an undetected eye problem in England[1].
The team handed out information detailing different conditions that a sight test can pick up, and the various diagnostic tests carried out to assess the overall health of the eye. The children were also given Specsavers high viz jackets for use when walking or travelling to school, on school trips and to increase their visibility during the darker autumn and winter evenings.
Specsavers Whitechapel and Bethnal Green retail director, Neeraj Tripathi, commented: ‘We are delighted to have been invited into the schools to meet with parents and discuss how valuable it is for their children to have regular sight tests. Over the last three years with the increase of screen time, we are seeing many more children with myopia – so it’s really good to have your child’s eyes tested regularly, as this will help with their studies, reading skills and confidence.
‘The parents took on board what we were discussing, which has resulted in them booking sight tests for their children during the summer holidays, ahead of the new autumn term.’
A recent study[2] conducted during 2021 revealed myopia among children increased significantly during the pandemic. Myopia, also known as short-sightedness, is thought to affect one in three people in the UK and usually occurs when the eyes grow slightly too long, meaning that light doesn’t focus on the light-sensitive tissue (retina) at the back of the eye properly.
In 2020 and into 2021, many children were spending as much as six hours a day on smartphones and other digital devices[3] which is a contributing factor to the increase in myopia. If children (and adults) can follow the 20:20:20 rule – which recommends looking away from their screen or white board every 20 minutes at something 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds – this will help to relax the eye muscles.
Specsavers eye tests are designed to be friendly and fun, and for children who are not yet reading, there are special charts, shapes, and picture books that the optician can use instead. It is recommended that adults have a sight test at least every two years, children should visit every year.
The NHS will cover the full cost of a sight test for anyone who qualifies. All children under 16, as well as those under 19 in full-time education, are entitled to an NHS funded eye test.
Family Support Worker, Rofina from John Scurr Primary School, said: ‘A big thank you to Specsavers Whitechapel and Bethnal Green for their visit to our school on Parents Celebration Day held on 22nd June 2023. We wanted to raise awareness for children to have regular eye tests, especially with the digital age we currently live in, and to our amazement, Specsavers agreed to a school visit.
‘The amazing group of people who visited us provided service with a smile and a friendly, calming atmosphere that is still being talked about today. This has encouraged the parents to take their children in store for an annual eye test – so far, we’ve had great feedback from our parents. Going forward, we will be inviting both stores back to our Parents Celebration Day to work in partnership to build a better community. A massive thank you again to Specsavers.’
A spokesperson for the Thomas Buxton Primary School commented: ‘Specsavers recently visited our school to meet with families and share the importance of regular eye tests. It raised awareness in our school community about the significance of maintaining good eye health. By educating families about the benefits of regular sight tests, they can detect potential vision problems early on, leading to timely interventions and improved overall eye health.
‘Early detection can prevent serious eye conditions and enhance the quality of life for individuals of all ages. We were so pleased that members from the local Specsavers store came in to share this important message about optometry.’
For anyone who wants to check out if their and their family’s eyesight or hearing is in tip top condition for the summer holidays, you can contact Specsavers Whitechapel on 020 7247 6478 or Specsavers Bethnal Green on 020 7324 7520 – you can also book online:
www.specsavers.co.uk/stores/whitechapel
www.specsavers.co.uk/stores/bethnalgreen
