Less than Half of Kiwi Kids Have Had Their Eyes Tested

23 December 2014

Survey Reveals Less than Half of Kiwi Kids Have Had Their Eyes Professionally Tested – Optometrist Responds with Free Eye Exams

Specsavers to run Kids Go Free campaign throughout January

Specsavers today announced that children throughout New Zealand will be eligible for a free eye exam at any Specsavers store in January 2015. New Perceptive Research commissioned by Specsavers found that less than half of parents surveyed had ever taken their child for an eye exam.* The new initiative, Kids Go Free, is designed to help combat the issue.

Specsavers New Lynn optometrist, Philip Walsh, says it is imperative for parents to put a free eye exam on their ‘back to school’ checklist considering the impact poor eyesight can have on a child’s development.

“Eight really is the magic number when it comes to children’s sight. As much of a child’s development takes place before the age of eight; it can be much harder to correct any problems after that. Even conditions such as a squint or lazy eye can lead to long-term problems that can require surgery if not diagnosed before that age,” says Mr Walsh.

Of the 750 parents recently surveyed, fewer than half reported they were aware of the potential developmental issues that could arise if children do not have their eyes examined regularly.*

Mr Walsh says these statistics are worrying, especially considering it was found that 66% of the parents who have taken their child to the optometrist said their child needed prescriptive eyewear, reinforcing the importance of the health check*.

“A great deal of a child’s learning is through their vision and if this is impaired, their learning and development can be significantly compromised. In some cases, vision problems may be misdiagnosed as learning difficulties such as dyslexia. Undetected eye conditions can impact on a child’s confidence levels and reduce a child’s ability to reach their full potential,” adds Mr Walsh.

Specsavers optometrists recommend children have their eyes examined at least once every two years from the age of three. As they continue to develop and change they may require more regular eye exams.

To encourage parents to get their children’s eyes examined these school holidays and to realise the importance of professional eye checks at least every two years, Specsavers stores nationwide are running a ‘Kids Go Free’ campaign for the whole month of January. The ‘Kids Go Free’ offer welcomes all children up to the age of 16 for a free comprehensive eye exam including Digital Retinal Photography, a powerful tool that screens for abnormalities.

In a recent trial of the ‘Kids Go Free’ programme in Wellington, more than 50% of children who came in over a one-month period needed some form of correction to their eyes.

“Specsavers optometrists around the country are encouraging parents to take up this opportunity and ensure our children’s eye health is prioritised,” Mr Walsh says.

Specsavers stores offer a colourful kids’ and teens’ range of designer glasses including Moshi Monsters, Country Road Kids, LEGO, Star Wars, Roxy and Quiksilver. Kids’ glasses in the Specsavers range come complete with free SuperTough lens upgrades and full UV protection for kids under 16 years.

*Perceptive Research survey commissioned by Specsavers which captured responses of 1,549 New Zealanders. 750 of respondents were parents and eligible to answer the kids section.

Philip Walsh gives some tell-tale signs that children may be having trouble with their sight and should be booked in to see their optometrist for an eye exam:
• Trouble reading – Children who frequently skip lines or lose their place while reading books
• Squinting – If a child frequently squints, they may be trying to compensate for poor vision
• Sitting too close to the television – Short-sighted children generally have clear vision at a close range and poor vision at a distance
• Rubbing eyes and headaches – If a child rubs their eyes excessively or regularly complains of headaches it may mean their eye muscles are fatigued from straining

About Specsavers
Specsavers offers Digital Retinal Photography with every standard eye exam at all of its 51 stores across New Zealand, for free.

Digital Retinal Photography is a powerful tool that allows optometrists to screen for abnormalities, assisting with the early detection of diseases including diabetes, macular degeneration and glaucoma. At Specsavers, we believe New Zealanders deserve access to this advanced technology, which is why unlike some optometrists, we don’t charge extra for it.

Maybe this is why more New Zealanders chose a Specsavers optometrist for their last eye exam than any other optometrist (Roy Morgan Research 2013).

Check out Specsavers New Zealand on Facebook and on Pinterest

www.specsavers.co.nz

ENDS

© Scoop Media