Children who wear glasses are no longer the target for bullies, new research reveals today. Startlingly, nearly two thirds of adults (64%) admit that children were teased or bullied for wearing glasses when they were at school while in contrast only five per cent of children under 16 say that they are ‘bullied’ for the same reason, and only seven per cent are ‘teased’ or told they look ‘geeky’.
The research indicates that children in the 80s had the worst time at school for wearing specs with 71 per cent of those now aged between 35 and 44 claiming to have witnessed teasing or bullying In contrast, recent school leavers appear to have had an easier run, with only 46 per cent of 18-24 year olds aware of any bullying.
The research, commissioned by The College of Optometrists, also shows that adults assume the worst for today’s kids, with over a quarter of adults (27%) believing that children will be bullied for wearing glasses in the playground. In fact, children say that glasses are either ignored or a source of envy among school mates. Over a third of kids (34%) under 16 say their friends never mention their glasses at all, while 43 per cent say their friends are actively positive about them: saying that they make them look ‘clever’ (17%), ‘trendy’ (11%), ‘attractive’ (10%) and ‘kind’ (5%) in contrast to over half of adults who thought that kids wearing glasses would receive negative comments from their peers.
For some, glasses are even used to enhance their image. One in seven children say that they wear their glasses because it makes them ‘look cool’, while one in ten don them to ‘look clever’. For younger children in the 7-8 age group, 13 per cent will put them on to ‘look like their friends’, while the older children are more practical and just want to ‘see better’ (86 % of 15-16 year olds).
These findings come hot on the heels of a recent study by The College of Optometrists that found Harry Potter has made wearing glasses ‘cool’ for 85 per cent of school children, and modern cultural icons such as Johnny Depp make it easier for children to wear their glasses with pride.
Dr Susan Blakeney, Optometric Adviser to The College of Optometrists says: “As the research indicates, when I was a child glasses were certainly no fashion statement and children came up with a whole variety of unpleasant and cruel names to use for the people who wore them. However, a changing attitude amongst the young, enhanced by cultural icons such as Harry Potter and Johnny Depp, has led to children no longer seeing glasses as a reason to tease each other. This is great news for parents, who will find it easier to take their children to an optometrist if they suspect they may be having problems with their eyes, and for children who will receive the help they may need to ensure they see as clearly and comfortably as possible.”
Dr Blakeney urges parents to take their children for regular eye examinations, especially if they have any concerns about their child’s vision. “On almost every high street is a qualified optometrist able to examine your child’s eyes - and there is no charge for children under 16 to have their eyes examined under the NHS.”
She also cautions parents to avoid assuming that everything is fine with their child’s eyesight simply because they don’t complain about their vision: “It’s difficult for children to know what is normal because they often have nothing to compare it to, and so assume what they see is what everyone sees.”
The College of Optometrists advises parents to watch out for the following signs of potential eyesight problems:
The study was conducted by The College of Optometrists as part of an ongoing campaign to raise awareness of eye health issues.