Kids encouraged to get their eyes checked before returning to school

An optometrist at Specsavers Orange, Mr Priddle noted a disparity between older and younger parents, with younger parents taking a much more preventative approach to their child's eye health than the older age group, possibly due to the increased uptake of screens in younger children.

He said this is potentially putting the children of older parents at a higher risk of vision loss.

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"What we're finding is parents are being more reactive than preventative," he said.

"So they're waiting until there is a problem to bring them in rather than routinely getting checks."

All parents in Orange are being urged by health experts to include an eye test on their back-to-school list, with Specsavers saying that there are 40,711 children between the age of 5-20 in the Orange area who may have potentially missed an eye test.

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"Virtual and screen-based learning means children and teens alike are spending more time on their laptops and tablets than ever before, and I've noticed a significant rise in the number of children presenting with digital eye strain," Mr Priddle added.

"We recommend Orange parents bring their child to see an optometrist for a routine eye test before they begin school.

"An eye test for your child should be a part of that back-to-school checklist, even if you aren't concerned about any changes in their vision or they don't wear glasses."

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However, new research has found that although eye health was reported as a concern across all generations of parents and 60 per cent reported their children having eye issues, this concern has not translated into them seeking professional advice.

Nearly 20 per cent of parents or caregivers in NSW are not seeking advice when their child has experienced or complained of an eye issue which could be detrimental to eye health, impacting their ability to learn.

One parent who is getting his kids regularly checked Scott Fowler.

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He has also noticed a difference in learning this past year.

"We've done it routinely, given that me and my wife have had problems with our eyes" Mr Fowler said of getting eye checks.

"If you look after your kids' eyes it certainly encourages them to be comfortable reading. Screen time has increased with Covid and that's why we get our kids' eyes checked every 12 months."

Children should get their eyes checked at least once every two years.