23rd September 2024
Promoting the importance of good eye health and the role of health visiting in detection and support of childhood vision problems.
The first few months and years of a child’s life are critical for the development of vision. Delayed identification and treatment of visual disorders during early childhood can lead to permanent visual loss.
iHV supports National Eye Health Awareness Week. In doing so, we would like to highlight two Good Practice Points (GPP) aimed at supporting health visitors and skill mix teams in the identification and management of childhood vision problems. These resources have been produced in collaboration with experts in the field, Dr Ameenat Lola Solebo and Professor Jungoo S Rahi.
- GPP – Identifying children with visual disorders – Part 1
- GPP – Supporting families when poor vision is confirmed – Part 2
Health visitors are uniquely placed, due to their universal reach, to make a significant contribution in the early detection and management of childhood vision problems. By understanding the typical milestones of visual development and the common indicators of vision issues, health visitors can play a vital role in ensuring that children receive the care they need during their critical early years.
These GPPs detail insights and practical advice to support health visitors and skill mix teams in their roles to ensure that children with, or at risk of, visual impairments receive the timely care they need. The resources present an overview of visual development, signs, symptoms and causes of reduced vision, and signpost to further resources to support families.
Dr Ameenat Lola Solebo, NIHR Clinician Scientist and Consultant Paediatric Ophthalmologist at University College London, commented:
“Vision is central, and critical, to a child’s overall development. A child’s visual function affects how they learn to interact with others around them and with their wider environment. Poor vision can hinder this development, leading to challenges in navigation, hand-eye coordination, and in social interactions. Additionally, because good quality visual stimulation is important for establishing good quality visual pathways in the brain, delayed identification and treatment of visual disorders during early childhood can result in permanently poor vision.
“This National Eye Health Week and beyond, we are asking Health Visitors to “Think Vision” with regards to child health.”
Dr Ameenat Lola Solebo, NIHR Clinician Scientist and Consultant Paediatric Ophthalmologist, University College London
Professor Jugnoo S Rahi, Professor of Ophthalmic Epidemiology, UCL GOS Institute of Child Health and Institute of Ophthalmology and Honorary Consultant Ophthalmologist Great Ormond Street Hospital, added:
Professor Jugnoo S Rahi, Professor of Ophthalmic Epidemiology, UCL GOS Institute of Child Health and Institute of Ophthalmology and Honorary Consultant Ophthalmologist Great Ormond Street Hospital
“Make every contact count – every interaction with a child and their family is an opportunity to make a difference. Encourage parents to monitor their child’s visual milestones using the “red book” and to raise any concerns promptly. Regular checks and open communication can significantly impact early detection and treatment outcomes.
“Sight impairment is a developmental emergency, and the role of health visitors in early detection is key to achieving the best outcomes.”
Key Highlights of the GPPs include:
- Early Developmental Milestones
- Indicators of Vision Problems
- Common Vision Disorders
- Supporting At-Risk Populations
- Multidisciplinary Approach
Watch the video introducing the GPPs
Ameenat Lola Solebo and Jungoo S Rahi have produced a short video recording introducing these Good Practice Points. You can view the recording here.
For more information and to access the extensive range of iHV member benefits, such as Good Practice Points, click here.
If you are not already a member of iHV, you can find out more here and sign up for membership today.
