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ECP’s encouraged to refresh paediatric knowledge
Primary eye care professionals encouraged to refresh paediatric knowledge ahead of sector-wide children’s eye health campaign
Practitioners across the UK are being encouraged to refresh their knowledge, skills and confidence in paediatric eye care ahead of a new sector-wide child eye health public awareness campaign launching in the early autumn. The campaign will encourage parents and carers to make eye tests a part of their children’s regular healthcare routine from age 3-4 years old before they start school, helping to identify vision and eye health problems early and supporting lifelong healthy vision. The campaign is being led by The College of Optometrists, ABDO, Specsavers and Boots Opticians and supported by FODO, Fight for Sight, the IAPB and OSA.
The campaign will encourage parents and carers to make eye tests a part of their children’s regular healthcare routine from age 3-4 years old before they start school, helping to identify vision and eye health problems early and supporting lifelong healthy vision.
Easy online access to paediatric learning resources
To help eye care professionals prepare, a dedicated children’s eye health CPD resource hub has been created on the College website, with a wide range of paediatric eye care online learning and CPD resources provided by the College, ABDO, Specsavers and Docet.
Denise Voon, Clinical Adviser at The College of Optometrists, said, “Children’s vision plays a vital role in their learning, development and wellbeing, yet many eye conditions can develop without obvious symptoms. As we prepare for our public awareness campaign, we want every optometrist to feel confident in delivering high-quality care for young patients. The College’s online paediatric learning resources make it easy to refresh clinical knowledge and practical skills and ensure practices are ready to welcome more children through their doors.”
Dr Alicia Thompson, Research Director at the Association of British Dispensing Opticians, added, ” Every child deserves the opportunity to see clearly and reach their full potential. Regular sight tests are essential, but they are only part of the journey to achieving the best possible vision throughout life. If glasses are needed, children should also be seen by a dispensing optician who can ensure their spectacles fit their developing features, feel comfortable, suit their lifestyle, and are accurately fitted so they receive the full benefit of their prescription. Appropriate frame selection and lens positioning are vital to ensure the prescription is delivered correctly. The right pair of glasses can make a huge difference to a child’s vision, both now and in the future, as well as their confidence, development, and everyday experiences.
“ABDO is pleased to support this important initiative as part of the World Sight Day campaign. By encouraging more families to access sight tests for their pre-school children, while also highlighting the vital role of dispensing opticians in assessing and taking account of young children’s developing facial features when selecting and fitting spectacles, we can help ensure children receive the eyewear they need to benefit fully from good vision. Working together across the sector, we can help more children get the best possible start in life.”
Sarah Joyce, Chair at FODO, commented, “Every eye examination is an opportunity not only to detect and manage vision and eye health problems early, but also to encourage parents and carers to make regular eye tests part of their child’s routine healthcare. Establishing this habit from an early age helps ensure that eye conditions developing later in childhood are identified promptly, enabling timely intervention and the best possible outcomes for a child’s vision, learning and development. The good news is that eye care is highly accessible, with opticians located in communities across the UK, making it easy for families to access professional care close to home. NHS funded eye examinations are available free of charge for all children under 16, removing financial barriers and ensuring every child has the opportunity to benefit from regular eye health tests.”
Guidance for Professional Practice for examining younger children
The College’s Guidance for Professional Practice reminds optometrists that they should welcome patients of all ages. Practitioners should make the child’s welfare their first priority, adapt their approach to suit the child’s age and ability, and make every reasonable attempt to complete an appropriate examination. This includes taking a relevant history, assessing visual acuity, binocular vision, ocular alignment, refractive error and ocular health, while recognising when additional visits, referral or advice from a more experienced colleague may be in the child’s best interests.
The guidance also highlights the importance of creating a positive experience for young patients. Optometrists should establish rapport, communicate in an age-appropriate way, explain tests clearly to both the child and accompanying adult, respect children’s concerns, and wherever possible ensure a parent or carer remains present throughout the examination. Creating welcoming, child-friendly consultations helps build trust and supports successful examinations.
