Parents have been urged to ensure that their children get a full eyesight test from a qualified optometrist following University of Ulster research into NI children's eyesight.

The call came from academics at the University who have discovered that many primary school-age children in Northern Ireland who need glasses to correct astigmatism – a condition that causes blurred vision – have never had a pair of spectacles.

Astigmatism is caused by an irregular curvature of the cornea but is easily corrected by wearing spectacles in childhood.

The academics – Dr Kathryn Saunders (pictured), Ms Lisa O’Donoghue and Dr Julie McClelland - from Ulster’s Vision Science Research Group tested the eye health of more than 1,000 Northern Ireland school children in a study funded by the UK College of Optometrists and supported by the Northern Ireland Optometric Society.

They found that 24% of children sampled had significant levels of astigmatism. Three out of four of those 6-7 year-olds did not have a pair of spectacles nor had ever worn any.

Dr Saunders, a senior lecturer in Vision Science, said: “What surprised us is how few of those children with astigmatism had glasses or any history of ever having glasses. This is worrying because these children demonstrated significantly reduced vision compared to their peers.

“This may impact not only on their learning but, if left uncorrected, may mean they enter adulthood with permanent un-correctable vision loss”.

She added: “We recommend that all children have a full sight test by an optometrist (optician) before starting school. Optometrists are able to perform a thorough test of visual status including how well the child can see and whether they need glasses.

“Vision screening of pre-school children is recommended by the government and all participants in the present study should have undergone school vision screen on entering primary school. The results of our study suggest that this screening has failed to identify a significant number of children with correctable vision loss.

“All children under 16 years of age are entitled to a free sight test by an optometrist and we highly recommend that parents take advantage of this service,” Dr Saunders urged.

The study by the academics is the first to examine vision, eye shape and the need for glasses in any part of Ireland. Along with a similar study in the West Midlands, conducted by vision scientists at Aston University, the probe will provide the first description of eye shape, the prevalence of long- and short-sight and astigmatism in UK children in more than 40 years.

Dr Saunders said: “In addition to improving our understanding of eye health, data issuing from the current study will inform government agencies reviewing screening services and planning future service provision.”

The Optometry Clinics at Ulster’s Coleraine and Jordanstown campuses offer eye examinations to the public. The clinics provide an opportunity for undergraduate optometry students to test patients under the close supervision of a qualified member of staff.

At the University of Ulster’s Coleraine campus there is a specialist clinic where babies from a few months old are tested. The clinic also provides thorough visual assessment for children and adults with special needs who often have vision problems and need specialist care.

Appointments can be made by contacting the clinic tel: 028 7032 3047.

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For further information, please contact:

David Young
Telephone: 028 90366074
Email: David Young