A campaign launched on 12th September, to coincide with National Eye Week (12 – 18 Sept), warns how one in five school-age children in West Sussex has an undiagnosed vision problem that could interfere with their ability to learn.

Good vision during a child’s early years is vital as visual learning accounts for 80 per cent of the learning process. “Some children are inaccurately labelled as slow or poor learners or even dyslexic when in fact they have an undetected vision condition” explains Iain Anderson, Chairman of the Eyecare Trust.

Local optician, Roger Tabberer, of Sight & Sound Opticians in the High Street, Bognor Regis, says: “Although some schools still carry out vision screening programmes, these should not replace a comprehensive eye examination at your local optician. We recommend that every child has an annual eye examination and all adults have an eye examination every two years (unless otherwise advised by your optometrist).

At the start of a new school year, now is the ideal time to take your child for an eye examination to ensure they make the most of their education. “After all,” continues Mr Tabberer “children’s eye examinations are free on the NHS – so the only investment parents need to make is their time.”