Back to school campaign

Report includes children’s eye health recommendations

Against the backdrop of a new report launched today (16 April 2025), the charity Eye Health UK is urging parents to get their children’s eyes examined before term starts in September “to prevent them being disadvantaged in the classroom”.

The report, titled ‘Our children’s eye health‘, reveals that 70 per cent of parents don’t take their children for a sight test before starting school.

David Cartwright, optometrist and chair of Eye Health UK, said: “One in five children in the UK has an undiagnosed vision problem that will hinder their learning and development. It’s often difficult for parents, carers or teachers to recognise when a child might be struggling with their eyesight; however, sight tests are free [on the NHS] for all children at High Street optical practices. Children requiring vision correction are also entitled to an NHS voucher that can be used to pay for glasses.

“Starting school for the first time can feel stressful for parents and children but ensuring a child’s eyesight is up to scratch can help them settle-in quickly and aid their learning,” added David.

Key report findings from survey respondents:

• Twenty-one per cent said they relied on school to check their child’s eyesight
• Sixty-four per cent ” had no idea” how often a child should have their eyes tested
• Fifty-nine per cent were’t aware that children’s sight tests were free at High Street opticians
• Seventy-five per cent didn’t know that the NHS provided eyewear vouchers for children
• Twenty-four per cent believed that their child did not need a sight test because their child’s eyes were “fine”
• Forty-nine per cent thought regular headaches could be linked to poor vision
• Thirty-three per cent linked a turning or tilting head to possible difficulties with how well a child could see
• Twenty-nine per cent recognised a dislike of bright lights
• Thirteen per cent linked orienting drawings poorly on paper with possible vision problems
• Eighty-six per cent were unaware that time outdoors was important for eye health
• For nine in 10 respondents, their local opticians would not be the first place they would seek help if their child experienced problems with their eye health

Read the report in full.

Statistics quoted in the report are taken from a OnePoll survey of 2,000 parents of children aged 0-16 years conducted for National Eye Health Week between 12-16 September 2024.