What is it about?
This paper presents the the results of almost 1000 eye examinations conducted on children in 11 UK special schools and as such it is the largest study of its kind in the world. The title focuses on the inadequacy of current school screening guidelines for this group of children but the data also reveals a high level of need and outlines the tailored service our clinical team used to meet this need. Almost 1/2 of the children (46.2%) had a problem with their eyes, 1/3 (31.5%) needed glasses and almost a 1/2 (44%) had never had their eyes examined with only 1/10 having been seen by an optician (optometrist) in a community practice setting in the past. The average age of children tested was almost 11 years.
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Why is it important?
Children with a learning disability are 28 times more likely than their peers to have a serious sight problem but this work shows that many children in special school have never had their eyes checked. In England every child has the right to an regular NHS eye examination at an opticians but our data shows they are not using these services. The complex needs of these children mean that examination techniques have to be tailored and ideally carried out in the familiar environment of the school with ongoing support. Given the considerable resource used to provide specialist education for children with complex needs an understanding of a child's visual abilities is crucial. Teachers need to know what a child can see if they are to do their jobs effectively. This evidence supports the planned NHS England establishment of an in school sight testing service for special schools which includes glasses dispensing and ongoing support.
Perspectives
Having worked in special schools for 7 years delivering the service that produced this data I understand that services need to be tailored to meet the needs of the child and crucially be well linked in to everyone else working or supporting them. A dedicated special schools eye care service offers ongoing support for children to make the most of their sight and helps them build the skills to interact with eye care into adult hood.
Marek Karas
Cardiff University
This work allowed our team to evidence to NHSEngland the need to implement the Framework for Special Schools Eye care to enable access to eye care and ,when needed, glasses for this high needs group. Publication of this work led to the NHS 10 year plan committing to in school eye, dental and audiology care and we have been part of an NHSE working group set up to deliver the Framework model across English special schools.
Lisa Donaldson
SeeAbility
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Findings from an opt-in eye examination service in English special schools. Is vision screening effective for this population?, PLoS ONE, March 2019, PLOS,
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0212733.
You can read the full text:
Resources
Children in Focus 2019: A change in sight
Children in Focus 2019 – A Change in Sight Since 2013 SeeAbility has been delivering specialist sight tests in a number of special schools. This report looks back on our last six years of work and celebrates the NHS's pledge to introduce sight tests in special schools from 2020 onwards.
Framework for the provision of eye care in special schools in England
SeeAbility have worked with the Association of British Dispensing Opticians, the British and Irish Orthoptic Society, the College of Optometrists, the Local Optical Committee Support Unit (LOCSU) and The Royal College of Ophthalmologists with support and advice from the Children’s Vision Service Advisory Group in Wales to provide a framework whereby all children and young people in special schools in England gain equitable access to regular eye care. The paper presents the case for operating an eye health care service in special schools in England and provides principles for a framework, giving recommended clinical protocols.
Children in Focus
A short film explaining the sight testing in special schools work
Award for research excellence
Lisa Donaldson, the lead author, was awarded the College of Optometrists Giles Van Colle Memorial Award for outstanding research or clinical case work relating to paediatric optometry for this work.
Contributors
The following have contributed to this page
