Medicare data released in Australia for the 2017-18 financial year shows that children’s optometric consultations have increased steadily over the last four years.
Skye Cappuccio, general manager of policy at Optometry Australia said this trend was pleasing and will hopefully continue.
“In Australia, approximately one in five children suffers from an undetected vision problem and it is Optometry Australia’s mission to reduce this,” she said.
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 increased screen time and decreased ‘green time’, says Optometry Australia, adding that myopia, particularly in children, is growing at astonishing rates, while the rate of children having eye examinations is modest in comparison.
“It is more critical than ever that children have their eyes examined regularly to ensure any adverse vision changes are detected and treated early. We are therefore delighted to see an upward trend in children visiting an optometrist,” Ms Cappuccio said.
