DURING FEBRUARY half term week, the team at Specsavers Kingston upon Thames is inviting parents and children into the store, to encourage the whole family to check that their eyesight is in tip top condition ahead of the new term.
Particularly relevant, as it is estimated that 1.6 million school-aged children are living with an undetected eye problem in England hence encouraging parents to take their children for a sight test.

During the 2020 pandemic, a study revealed that myopia significantly increased amongst children for a variety of reasons, including increased screen time, where on average they spent around six hours a day on smart phones, desktops and other digital devices. Myopia, also known as short-sightedness, is thought to affect one in three people in the UK and usually occurs when the eyes grow slightly too long, meaning that light doesn’t focus on the light-sensitive tissue (retina) at the back of the eye properly.

Specsavers encourage both children and adults to follow the 20:20:20 rule which recommends looking away from their screen or white board every 20 minutes at something 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds, which will help to relax the eye muscles.
With the poorer lighting during the winter months, and low level of winter sunlight, ensuring you have the most up to date glasses prescription is all the more important when driving and cycling on the busy roads.
Specsavers Kingston also offer the OCT (Optical Coherence Tomography) which is advanced diagnostic, eye scanning equipment that helps detect several serious eye conditions, including glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy. It can detect eye conditions up to four years ahead of them presenting via a standard eye test.
Regular sight tests for children ensures their eyesight is monitored, as straining to read anything on the school white board during lessons, will eventually lead to an impact on learning and their overall confidence.

Specsavers eye tests are designed to be friendly and fun, and for children who are not reading yet, there are special charts, shapes, and picture books that the optician can use instead. It is recommended that adults have an eye test at least every two years, children should visit every year.

The NHS will cover the full cost of an eye test for anyone who qualifies. All children under 16, as well as those under 19 in full-time education, are entitled to an NHS funded eye test.

For those more sporty children who may play contact sports, then contact lenses might be an option – the store team are happy to assist with their fitting.

To book in for a sight or hearing test, you can contact Specsavers Kingston upon Thames on 020 8974 6677 or Specsavers Surbiton on 020 8339 8900 alternatively you can book online.