Lazy eye in children should be screened earlier, experts say

Admin

June 23, 2025
3 min read

Lazy eye in children should be screened earlier, experts say

Children with a lazy eye are often missed for treatment, experts warn, especially in areas where early screenings are not available in schools. Some councils are not able to offer the service, as a result of capacity or budget constraints, the Local Government Association (LGA) said, calling for increased funding.

The British and Irish Orthoptic Society (BIOS) has called for screening for amblyopia, also known as a lazy eye, to be offered in every school in England. This is already the case in Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. The condition can be corrected with patches, but treatment works better before the age of seven.

Call for School Uniforms to Be Replaced with Activewear

Children’s advocacy groups argue that active clothing would better support student wellbeing and learning.

Private School Enrolments Drop by 11,000 Pupils

Latest figures show a notable decline in private school attendance, raising questions about long-term trends.

Free School Meals Now Available to All on Universal Credit

Major policy shift ensures that every child from families receiving Universal Credit can now get free meals at school.

Two to five percent of children are diagnosed with a lazy eye every year. The UK National Screening Committee recommends vision screening for children aged between four and five but around 11% of local authorities do not offer it at school.

It can be a hard condition for parents to spot early, Craig Murray, chair of BIOS said, adding that there is a “postcode lottery” for families over whether they could be offered screening or not. “We are finding more of those cases of older children who are coming in and they weren’t screened, and now it’s too late for them to have that amblyopia treated,” he said.

Stay tuned to EyeOnLondon for the latest news and expert opinions.