As another school term approaches, up to 75,000 children a year in the UK miss out on routine vision screening, potentially beginning school with untreated eyesight problems.

According to the British and Irish Orthoptic Society, such screenings are not consistently delivered in all areas.

Research highlights gaps in children’s eye screening

UK National Screening Committee guidance recommends children receive vision screening at age four to five, typically at school, to detect reduced vision early.

Yet this provision varies between regions, leaving many children reliant on parents to seek out full eye tests themselves.

School-entry orthoptic screening can catch conditions like amblyopia (lazy eye) and strabismus, but unlike a full eye test, it does not assess eye health comprehensively.

Research shows that while screening is reasonably effective at detecting major issues, a small percentage of children with visual defects may pass unnoticed.

Meanwhile, only around a third of children under 16 received an NHS sight test over an 18-month period in one study area, highlighting underuse of readily available services.

Low awareness and competing priorities hold parents back

Research conducted by Asda reveals that over a third of parents (36%) did not know children should have an eye test before starting school, and nearly 69% admitted eye tests were not on their back-to-school checklist.

Parents cited busy schedules (37%), difficulty booking appointments outside school or work hours (30%), uncertainty over the need for a test (22%), and concerns about cost (16%) as key barriers.

Yet NHS-funded eye tests are free for children under 16, with additional support available for glasses when needed.

Despite this, confusion persists—research found that one in five parents were unaware that school vision screenings are not equivalent to full optometrist tests.

Making eye tests more accessible during the back-to-school rush

In response to these challenges, some high-street opticians, like Asda Opticians, now offer free NHS-funded children’s eye tests at the point of weekly shopping.

These services include family-friendly hours—including evenings and weekends—and themed children’s frames, such as those featuring popular characters, along with coated lenses at no extra cost.

Professionals stress the importance of early detection

Industry experts emphasise that good vision underpins learning and confidence, and that school screenings cannot replace a full eye test. Undiagnosed vision problems can affect a child’s reading, writing and attention in the classroom.

Dispensing opticians are trained to recommend appropriate frames and lenses tailored to a child’s prescription and facial measurements.

Simplifying access to ensure every child starts school with clear vision

Ensuring children have their eyes tested before school begins could make a real difference in safeguarding their learning and development.

With NHS-funded sight tests available at no cost and regional screening gaps persisting, prompting and enabling parents to book optician appointments—especially during back-to-school shopping trips—can help close the current shortfall in children’s vision care.