A simple eye test could improve a child’s future earnings and opportunities

A simple eye test and pair of glasses could significantly improve a child’s future opportunities and lifetime earnings, new research has found.

Uncorrected refractive error is responsible for the equivalent of 6.3 million years of lost schooling among children globally every year, prompting renewed calls for parents to prioritise children’s eye health.

New data from the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) shows that if a child’s vision is corrected from the age of five and maintained throughout their school years, their lifetime earnings could increase by an average of 78%.

Uncorrected refractive error, which can usually be corrected with glasses, is one of the leading causes of vision impairment among school-aged children and teenagers.

This World Sight Day (8 October), The Fred Hollows Foundation is highlighting how access to simple eye care can change a child’s education and future. The Foundation is encouraging parents to make children's eye health a priority through regular eye tests.

Despite advances in treatment and technology, more than one billion people worldwide still lack access to essential eye health services.  

The Fred Hollows Foundation Director of Communications Alison Hill said children’s eye health should be a routine priority.  

“Every child deserves the chance to learn, participate and thrive. Yet too many are missing out because a vision issue has not been identified or corrected. 

“Timely eye care can change the course of a child’s education and future. We are calling on parents, schools and governments to make children’s eye health a priority, so no child is left behind simply because they need a pair of glasses. 

“Research shows a child with uncorrected vision learns about half as much in a year as a classmate with good vision. 

“A simple eye test and glasses could be among the most valuable investments a parent can make for their child’s future. Early vision correction doesn't just support learning, it can open doors to better educational, employment and life opportunities.”

The research also found that uncorrected refractive error contributes to an estimated US$173 billion in global economic losses every year.

World Sight Day comes just weeks before the first Global Summit for Eye Health, where Heads of State and partners will make a series of commitments to improve eye health services worldwide.

Read more on the report.

Data source: Parami Dhakhwa, Bryce Everett, Brad Wong. Better education in sight. An estimate of global learning and economic productivity losses from uncorrected refractive error in schools.