AN Ammanford opticians is urging parents to avoid putting their child’s eyesight and education at risk by getting their eyes tested.

Specsavers on Quay Street is advising that early eye tests are vital to help correct conditions such as lazy eye and squints before they become permanent and stunt a child’s development.

Sam Hodson, store director, said: ‘Regular eye examinations are vital, as undetected problems with vision affect one in five school children. This can damage their confidence and performance in reading and sports that require hand-eye co-ordination.

‘We recommend that children have their first eye examination at around three years old or as soon as they can match pictures or point at things, as the earlier many common childhood vision problems are discovered, the better the chance of correcting them.’

Good eyesight is one of the most important tools in a child’s learning and if it is not in perfect condition it can often be mistaken for learning difficulties in young children. Around 80% of everything a child learns is through their vision, so even a minor problem with a child’s sight can mean they suffer huge setbacks in their development at school.

Most infants and pre-school children have regular vision screening as part of their routine developmental checks. These early tests are invaluable, but are not as thorough as a full eye examination by a qualified optometrist.

Eye examinations for children are paid for by the NHS up to the age of 16, or 18 if they are in full-time education. If children need glasses, the NHS contributes towards the cost. At Specsavers, this voucher entitles children to free glasses from a wide range of fashionable frames, including the new Moshi Monsters range which has eight new styles for boys and girls.

Free NHS eye examinations are also available for people over 40 years of age with a history of glaucoma in the family and individuals over the age of 60.