The Boy in the Big Blue Glasses

Vision problems are secretive, incremental and make school very hard. Children usually can’t tell there is anything wrong as they assume everyone sees the world as they do. It effects their sport, reading, taking notes from the whiteboard, falling over, recognising people in the distance. It can lead to inaccurate labelling of children as slow learners, lacking confidence or even troublemakers when they actually have an undetected vision condition.

A boom in childhood  myopia – or short sightedness – is a major contributing factor with more children than ever at risk of developing poor vision through a variety of factors including increased screen time and decreased  ‘green time’  (time spent outdoors).

It is crucial for children to have a full eye examination with an optometrist before starting school and then regular visits as they progress through primary and secondary school, as part of their general health regime.

Children and teens with glasses face adjustment to wearing them. It can be hard to look after glasses and keep track of where they are. It can make children and teens feel different. They can be teased and identified as different. Kids may refuse to wear their glasses. It’s important that children feel included when they wear glasses and even a superhero.

For more information: Good Vision for Life

Written by Susanne Gervay, illustrated by multi award winning Marjorie Crosby-Fairall and read by Alice Zaslavsky the loved cook for kids, food writer, television, radio, podcast broadcaster.