Cricklade opticians' advice on children's eyecare

The advice was shared in a free guide distributed to parents, and featured guidance to help families spot the early signs that their child might be struggling with their vision. 
It also included insights to help parents better understand the impact that poor eyesight can have on learning, behaviour and confidence in the classroom, with tips for what they can do to help support their child’s eye health, including positive habits to encourage.
Simran Jhujh, Practice Manager, at Bayfields Opticians & Audiologists,Cricklade, said: "We're really proud to be working with Cirencester Primary School and ZEISS on this initiative. 
"As a local optician, giving back to the local community is incredibly important to us, and this guide and partnership is our way of making sure parents have the information they need to look after their children's eye health.
“As a busy parent, keeping on top of your child’s eye health can be tricky, especially when spinning lots of other plates. 
"As families across the nation prepare for the start of this year’s school summer holidays, we’re encouraging parents to add booking an eye test to their child’s back to school list. 
"This will help ensure they’re not only catching any issues early, but also that their child’s eye health is in the best shape possible ahead of another busy year of learning and enjoying all school life has to offer."
The Better Vision Guide encourages parents to look out for signs that their child may need an eye test, including holding books very close to their face, losing their place while reading, frequent squinting, avoiding sports that rely on distance vision and seeming less confident outdoors or in unfamiliar places.
Priya Kakkad, Professional Services Associate at ZEISS Vision Care, said: "As lens specialists, we know just how quickly children's vision can change, but the earlier any issues are identified, the better the outcomes tend to be. 
"It’s brilliant to be working alongside Bayfields and Cirencester Primary School to make sure parents have the information they need to act early and give their children the best possible support for their vision and longer term eye health."
According to the Office for National Statistics, around one in five children in the UK have an undiagnosed condition affecting their sight, and with many vision problems developing gradually, children often don't realise their sight isn't normal, making it a challenge for parents and teachers to identify the cause of difficulties at school.
Beyond the obvious signs, the guide highlights that vision problems can often go undetected. 
Children who struggle to see the board or read their books may become distracted or disengaged in class, and without understanding why, both parents and teachers can mistake the signs for a behavioural or learning issue, rather than difficulties with sight.
The Bayfields Opticians team have also shared their top tips for any other parents looking to support their child’s healthy vision:
- Adopt a rainbow-coloured diet. Providing a well-balanced, varied and nutritious diet is not only important for supporting your child’s everyday health but the foods they eat also have a part to play in supporting their eye health too. 
Ensure your child eats a good mix of vegetables and oily fish regularly to keep their eyes healthy.
- Limit screentime. Screentime is a key part of modern-day life, whether it’s catching up on their favourite show or playing games on an iPad or games console. 
However, staring at screens for a long time can cause eye strain, which can often lead to blurry vision, dry or watery eyes or a headache. 
Try to encourage regular screentime breaks every 30 minutes or more, and ensure your child has at least a 30cm working distance from screens.
- Protect their eyes from the sun. Children’s eyes should always be protected from UV rays and wearing sunglasses can help with this. Be sure to look out for sunglasses carrying the 'CE' mark which ensures that the lenses provide adequate protection against UV radiation. 
- Encourage more outdoor play - Increasing outdoor time and natural light in childhood is associated with a lower risk of developing myopia, or short-sightedness. Experts recommend spending 90 minutes to 2 hours outdoors each day.
Bayfields, in partnership with lens specialists ZEISS, can also talk to parents about specialist myopia management lenses, such as ZEISS MyoCare, which are designed to correct children’s vision while helping to slow the progression of myopia.
Bayfields offers NHS-funded eye tests free for children. For families with children under 18 years old, its Connect Kids membership provides additional peace of mind. 
Priced at £6 a month, the membership includes a free eye test and scan, free emergency appointments, 20% off sunglasses, 10% off eye drops and cleaning products and a free spare pair of glasses.
To book an eye test, visit bayfieldsopticians.com or visit Bayfields Opticians at 82 High Street, Cricklade, SN6 6DF.
To find out more about Bayfields Opticians, visit https://www.bayfieldsopticians.com/practices/cricklade/
For more information about ZEISS Vision Care, visit https://www.zeiss.co.uk/vision-care/about-zeiss-vision-care.html

 

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