SA: Parents in the dark about children's eye problems

AAP General News (Australia)
08-03-2004
SA: Parents in the dark about children's eye problems

About 600,000 Australian children between three and 12 have undiagnosed vision problems,
prompting optometrists to stress the need for more eye tests.

Optometrists Association Australia has launched an education campaign in the wake of
figures showing the number of Australian school-aged children having eye tests plummeted
in the past 20 years.

They dropped from 12 per cent in 1985/1986 to six per cent in 2003/04.

Association spokesman KEVIN ROONEY says research shows an estimated 900,000 Australian
children have some form of vision problems, and it's likely to be linked to learning difficulties
in many cases.

He says undiagnosed eye problems can cause many detrimental effects in a child's life,
including learning problems.

The association says every child should have their eyes checked by an optometrist before
they start school, during the first three years of primary school, and again in high school.

AAP RTV scl/rp

KEYWORD: EYES (ADELAIDE)

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