SpecsaversChildren

Caring for the vision of the smallest members of the family

Studies show that at least 20% of children have unidentified visual problems, which is why ophthalmologists recommend regular eye tests for children from an early age until 18. Global optical group Specsavers Opticas are advising that before the school year begins, all children should have an eye test to ensure that any problems are identified and rectified before they start to affect their lives. This is crucial as in the early stages of learning more than 80% of the learning process relies on vision.
“Most very young children have their eyesight assessed as part of their routine developmental checks. While these are very important, it is recommended to have a thorough, complete eye test by a qualified optician. So we recommend that your child should have their first eye test at an early age.” explains Francisco Manuel Jurado, Director of Specsavers Opticas in Guardamar del Segura and Torrevieja.

“Testing before your son or daughter goes into full-time education means that any problems they may have are identified early, setting them up for a happy and fulfilling school life. That’s because not being able to see clearly can be confusing in a busy classroom. Poor eyesight can cause learning and behavioural problems, which might be blamed on other things. This is especially true for young children, who may find it difficult to explain the difficulties they are having with their eyesight. They may not even be aware they have a problem at all. And of course, the sooner vision problems are detected, the better the outcome. Conditions such as squint and amblyopia (‘lazy eye’) can be treated more effectively if they are picked up early and referred to a Specialist. And that could make a huge difference to your child.”

As part of their commitment to children’s eye sight, Specsavers Opticas in Torrevieja and Guardamar del Segura have been supporting Fundación Arcos del Castillo for over a year, by providing free eye tests and glasses for children in their care. To date they have been able to provide many free eye tests for children from the charity’s centres in Elche and Murcia, and supplied over 50 pairs of free glasses. The charity explains; “This help is crucial for the young people we help in our centres, as the majority come from families who are unable to afford glasses, and each year the number of visual problems amongst these vulnerable children is increasing.”

SpecsaversFundacion

Director of Fundación Arcos del Castillo Mohamed
Lamin Turad with Francisco Manuel Jurado, of Specsavers Opticas

Francisco adds “Specsavers is a company which is concerned about providing support for our communities by improving their eye health and to do this we believe it’s important to collaborate with non-profit organizations such as this and take notice of what’s happening in our communities. We should all be aware of the amazing work that can be done by working together and committing our skills and resources to a good cause.”
Specsavers Opticas are offering free Back to School eye tests for children to ensure that parents are aware if there are any issues with their children’s eyes and can seek treatment before it creates an impact on their learning. To find you nearest optician and book an eye test visit www.specsavers.es