Children's eye health campaign

ABDO, Boots Opticians, the College and Specsavers have all come together to deliver a public awareness campaign on the importance of children receiving a full sight test before they start school, around three to four years old.

This campaign is also supported by Fight for Sight, FODO, International Association for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) and OSA.

All children to have a full sight test before they start school, between the ages of three and four, and to go for regular sight tests throughout childhood, every one to two years.

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 records, also known as the ‘red book’, about how and why parents and carers should take their child for regular sight tests (every one to two years) starting between the age 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 promote campaign assets to their audiences, with the core message of the importance that all children have a full sight test before they start school
• support and promote this campaign within their place of work
• refresh their skills around working with children, if needed