HEALTH EYES
entitled to free NHS testing. Nearly
all optometrists, of which there are
Common problems with
about 10,000 in the UK, offer NHS
appointments. Sadly, the government
children’s eyesight
recommends that no further screening
LONG- OR SHORT– SIGHTEDNESS
is necessary after the pre-school visit,
Short-sighted, near-sight or axial myopia, tends to
even though “a recent London study
appear in children around 9 or 10. In its early stages
found that 12 per cent of children have
it often does not require correction but typically
eye problems and less than a third
increases as the child grows older depending upon
receive treatment,” says Professor
hereditary factors.
Bruce Evans, director of research at school: “Dear Dr Clyde, Tank you so
Long-sighted, far-sight or hyperopia, makes it
the Institute of Optometry and a much for hearing (seeing) me. I am now difficult to focus on close-up objects but this
world expert on eye problems and coping in clas and I now love reading. focusing error can be overcome which is why
learning difficulties. Love Perry.” distance vision is usually good.
T_he same study found that 86 per Sadly, many children are not aware
ASTIGMATISM
cent of short-sighted children did not that they are experiencing difficulties
Indicates unequal curvatures in the eyes which
wear glasses and most of the children reading and battle on with blurred
produces a distorted image which can cause visual
who failed the eye examination had vision, assuming that everyone else
discomfort and sometimes blurred vision.
not had a test in two years. Even when sees like them. It isn’t until they are
children have been diagnosed they tested and are given glasses that they
SQUINTS AND LAZY EYES
don’t always wear them. “I love it when realise they can see. Surely that in
A squint means a turn in the eye. These are often
present from birth or in very young children and if
children come in with scratched or itself is reason for any parent (who
untreated will result in the eye becoming lazy.
broken glasses because it means they hasn’t already) to call their local
Lazy eye or amblyopia is a term used to describe
have been wearing them. What I hate optometrist tomorrow? %
misalignment of one or both of the eyes which
is when I see pristine ones because
affects two per cent of children and is often
then I know their eyesight is being Useful Contacts
hereditary. A lazy eye is capable of working perfectly
damaged,” says Harrold.
d
Alexander Kobrin Optometrists,
normally but if the signals don’t get to it and the eye
Dr Clyde Alexander has specialised Potters Bar, Hertfordshire
is not used it fails to develop and becomes ‘lazy’.
knowledge in the development of a specialises in paediatric optometry
DYSLEXIA AND EYE VISION
child’s eyes which, particularly in including binocular vision and
Reading can be complicated by a condition known
the case of dyslexic children, can learning
www.alexanderkobrin.com
as Meares-Irlen syndrome/visual stress or bi-ocular
contribute to the difficulties they have
d
SH Harrold Opticians
co-ordination where letters and word tend to blur on
reading words on a page. His practice has 21 practices in southern England
the page so that instead of words they see shapes
on the high street of Potter’s Bar in
www.harroldopticians.co.uk
or patterns. 70 per cent of those diagnosed with
Hertfordshire, has badly spelled “thank
d
Keith Holland & Associates,
(MISVIS) have dyslexia. The extra effort exerted
you” letters, written by children, Cheltenham
www.keithholland.co.uk
to keep the two eyes tracking in tandem causes
decorating the noticeboard. One sums
d
T_he British Association of fatigue, eye strain, headaches and visual perceptual
up the ease with which an optometrist Behavioural Optometrists distortions which can be helped by coloured filters.
can transform a child’s experience at
www.babo.co.uk
Common solutions
«GLASSES can help metal frames usually Contacts can help recommended so eye therapy can develop
all of these conditions, have adjustable nose a child’s confidence patches stuck to skin long-lasting visual
especially myopia. pads. Let children but are to be used as around the stronger control and is probably
Prescriptive glasses choose their own as an alternative, not a eye are most effective. the most permanent
include sunglasses, they are more likely to substitute. “Atropine” eyedrops approach to changing
sport glasses or wear them. NHS glasses «EYE PATCH THERAPY can be used if children the entire system;
goggles which are start from £15. stimulates the eye won’t wear a patch. helping reading, general
G
sturdier and corrective «CONTACT LENSES muscles. Patches can After about 8 or 9, the co-ordination, thinking
N
H
C
X
or reading glasses. Children can wear be worn for a short benefit of patching skills and the speed
K
C
«CHOOSING suitable contact lenses from time as an exercise. or atropine therapy is at which information is
T
O
S
I
K
frames for children is aged ten or younger For the best results in questionable. processed by the brain.
N
R
O
difficult because of if they are able to amblyopia therapy, total «EYE EXERCISES
K
Source: :
©
S
undeveloped noses but look after them. visual deprivation is Exercises or vision
www.keithholland.co.uk T
O
O
H
P
WWW.FIRSTELEVENMAGAZINE.CO.UK SPRING 2010 FIRST ELEVEN 59
pp58-59FESpr10 Eyes2SMsub.indd 59 28/1/10 18:33:29
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