A group of researchers are calling on the state government to commit to universal vision checks for all preschool-aged children. They say undetected vision problems can affect children's development and that early intervention can prevent permanent vision loss.
00:00When Carol's daughter started falling behind at kindergarten, an educator recommended an eye test.
00:09Her optometrist found Lucy had the beginning of a lazy eye and was given glasses.
00:15By catching it at that early stage, balancing out the two eyes that were very asymmetric,
00:19we actually prevented the laziness from ever developing.
00:22And it made the world of difference to the then four-year-old.
00:25I was really excited to, like, learn better and also, like, show my friends, like, saying I've got glasses, I can see better now.
00:34Her confidence went through the roof and then at school she was just, yeah, a vibrant, happy little girl.
00:41That one.
00:42Last one.
00:43But it could have been a different story.
00:45If we don't detect this when children are young, it can lead to permanent blindness in that eye.
00:50While free vision checks are available for four- and five-year-olds in SA, researchers say only about 40% of kids are accessing them.
00:59Cassandra Haynes is one of a group of eye health professionals calling on the state government to implement universal screening for all South Australian preschool children.
01:08Recent research that we've been doing here at Flinders University has shown that 17% of children had an undiagnosed vision condition.
01:16She says vision health is instrumental to children's development.
01:19Having poor vision can negatively impact their performance at school, but also it can negatively impact their learning and earning potential across the whole lifespan.
01:28You love your children, you want to give your children the best opportunity in life, so just a simple little thing like this can give your child the best opportunity.
Be the first to comment