New campaign for routine eye tests for disabled children

While children with learning disabilities are 28 times more likely than their peers to have a serious sight issue, according to the charity, their sight is not regularly tested.

Research by the charity, based on 900 pupils, has found that more than half of all children tested in special schools had a vision problem – with 36 per cent needing glasses.

Forty-three per cent of pupils seen for the first time had no history of eye tests.

The charity has been collecting the data since 2013 while trialling a programme of sight tests and eye care for pupils in six London-based special schools, in collaboration with Cardiff University’s School of Optometry.

The most recent data from the last year has also revealed that three-quarters of those with no history of eye care have Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

The experience of children who were supplied with glasses changed significantly, with teaching staff reporting that when they could see better, they were happier, more engaged and less likely to exhibit frustrating or challenging behaviour.  

The research is released as part of the Children in Focus campaign set up by SeeAbility, which calls for a national programme of expert sight testing in special schools to give disabled children their “right to sight”.

Five-year-old Estera (pictured with her mum Ana) was born with Angelman Syndrome, a genetic disorder meaning she is non-verbal and hyperactive and classified as ASD. She has delayed development and movement, as well as balance problems and regular seizures.

Her mother Ana describes Estera as a very curious, smiley and active child, who would most likely find unfamiliar environments distressing, ‘Now Estera can walk I have to watch her all the time. I worry when I am out with her because she tries to put everything in her mouth and has no sense of danger,’ she said.

‘It would be extremely challenging to give Estera a sight test in a regular optical practice. You don’t have the space to follow her around the room in most practices,’ said Lisa Donaldson, optometrist and clinical lead of the Children in Focus campaign.

Ms Donaldson visited Estera at her special school and assessed Estera while she moved around, singing nursery rhymes to keep her interested.

‘I watched Estera moving around and playing with little toys, which tells me her eye movement is good. It’s really hard to get responses from Estera – developmentally she’s probably about ten-months-old and her attention span is very short. In a high street practice, I’d be forced to get her mum to hold her still which would make Estera unhappy and more uncooperative.’

Estera was found to be long-sighted but with fine vision at the moment.

‘I’m constantly being told by people that they thought someone was already carrying out this service for children with disabilities,’ Ms Donaldson continued.

‘The simple fact is, while there are areas of good practice, this is not happening on a national scale. The SeeAbility sight testing model meets a recognised health inequality and reaches children who are unable to access community eye care and their right to a free NHS sight test. We would like to see a national programme that works for the child and builds the importance of vision into their education, giving them greater independence, a better education, and saving the NHS and care services money in the long run.’

• Find out more about the Children in Focus campaign here