Children's eye health campaign

We are calling on national health and care service providers to:

update all guidance across the UK to signpost parents and carers to their local optician’s practice as their first port of call for eye health services and advice
include advice in the personal child health record (the 'red book') on how and why parents and carers should take their child for regular sight tests, every one to two years, starting between the ages of three and four

We are asking all optometrists, dispensing opticians, contact lens opticians and other optical professionals who work with children to:

use and share the campaign resources below, with the core message that all children should have a full sight test before they start school, and tag posts #CareForChildrensEyes
support and promote the campaign in their place of work
refresh their skills in working with children, if needed, using the new CPD and resources

Eye tests data shows only 5% of children aged five and under had an eye test in 2025

To mark World Sight Day, new analysis of UK eye tests data estimates that only around 5% of the total population of children aged 5 years and under had an eye test in 2025, despite optometrists and opticians recommending that children should be taken for their first regular eye test by the time they start school, from age 3-4 years old.

Build your confidence in children's eye care, new CPD and resources now available

ABDO, Boots Opticians, the College and Specsavers have all come together to provide CPD to enable you to build your confidence in working with children in your practice.