A PONTYPOOL-BASED charity is promoting the importance of eye tests to identify treatable optic conditions, particularly in children and young people, during National Eye Health Week.

The awareness week runs until Sunday, September 24 and Sight Cymru is championing the need for all members of society to take up regular sight examinations.

Dr Bablin Molik, a project officer with the charity, is hopeful that National Eye Health Week will encourage more people, notably those under 16, to find out about their optical health.

She said: “Children think they are seeing the world like others, don’t know any different and start compensating without fixing.

“Unfortunately, some students are misdiagnosed as having a learning disability or behavioural problems when they may simply have vision impairment.

“Eye problems can range from common refractive errors such as near-sightedness and farsightedness, to serious eye conditions. A child’s eyes are still developing into the primary years.”

Using statistics obtained by Sight Cymru, Dr Molik added that 20 per cent of children are struggling with reading due to sight loss, while one in five parents has never taken their child for an eye test.

Across the UK, eye examinations are often free of charge to children under the age of 16.

But despite this, children’s eye care is still given a surprisingly low priority by many parents and some children are never taken for an eye examination.

Dr Molik added: “Children’s eyes can be tested fully from the age of two. Eye test for children aged under 16 and anyone in full-time education under the age of 18 is free, yet take-up is low.

“The UK was one of the first countries to recognise the importance of good vision during these formative years and a system of vision screening was introduced over 100 years ago.

“However, recent changes in the frequency and organisation of vision screening for children is scant, in most places this is poor.

“This may be due to a lack of awareness and inequality of access. There are concerns that parents from lower-socio economic backgrounds are less likely to be aware of the free eye tests available at optometrists.

“They are also more likely to be put off taking their children for an eye test because of the perceived cost of spectacles.”

Statistic obtained by the charity have also looked into the wider picture in Wales and across the entire spectrum of ages.

Sight Cymru understands that around 107,000 people in Wales have significant sight loss issues, while three people per day lose their sight.

Among the older generation, sight loss is one of the three top causes of suicide and 50 per cent of sight loss conditions are preventable with early detection and treatment.

Dr Molik added that NHS Wales is already spending nearly £120m on eye and vision problems., but this figure is believed to be closer to £370m when indirect costs, such as the provision of informal care are also included.

For details, visit sightcymru.org.uk/ or visionmatters.org.uk.