Screen children in schools to find lazy eyes early, experts warn
Summary
Experts say many children with lazy eyes are not getting treated early enough because some schools in England don't offer vision screening. This screening, which helps find the condition early, is not available in about 11% of local areas due to funding and capacity issues.Key Facts
- A lazy eye, medically called amblyopia, is when one eye is weaker than the other.
- Correcting a lazy eye works best if done before a child is seven years old.
- Around 2-5% of children are diagnosed with amblyopia each year.
- The UK National Screening Committee advises schools to screen children aged four to five for vision problems.
- About 11% of local areas in England do not provide school vision screenings.
- Around 75,000 children live in places without school vision screening.
- In some areas, parents are given advice or directed to free tests at local opticians.
- Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland already provide school vision screenings for children.
- The Local Government Association urges more funding for school-based vision screening.
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