First eye check at local optometrist saves boys eye sight

Sydney mum of two Sasha Kempen was shocked when she took her son Aidan to the local optometrist for his first eye check where they discovered a potentially devastating condition — and it’s more common than you think.

When Aidan Kempen was just 6 weeks old, his dad Ryan noticed something wasn’t quite right with his son’s eye.

“My husband was the first one to notice that there was something unusual about Aidan’s left eye when he was just 6 weeks old. We both agreed that we should get it looked at as soon as possible,” says Sasha.

The Kempens are in the minority of Australian parents who take their children to get their eyes tested with a recent report revealing only 38 per cent of parents admitted to thinking about having their child’s eyes checked.

Sasha Kempen with her son Aidan, now 9 years old

The Kempens took Aidan to a local optometrist to have his eyes tested that uncovered a potentially threatening condition if left untreated.

“During the test the optometrist looked into the back of Aidan’s eye and could see that half of his retina hadn’t formed. The condition is called Iris, Retinal and Optic Disc Coloboma,” says Sasha.

Although the new parents were shocked by the diagnosis, they were thankful they made the decision to get an eye check.

Aidan’s test revealed his left retina hadn’t formed correctly

“I look back now and honestly, I was so surprised that the optometrist could know so much about my little boy’s eye from just a simple test. We have been given confidence and tools to help improve Aidan’s vision in his left eye ever since our first appointment,” says Sasha.

“Now that he’s at school, our visits to the optometrist are every six months to ensure we are doing the right training for his peripheral vision,” says Sasha.

“His vision has impacted his writing, so we’ve worked with his teacher to assist with his eye training. For example, we’ve worked together to ensure he sits in a position in the classroom that allows his left eye to strengthen. We’ve also ensured that his tennis lessons are at dusk, as it makes his eyes work a little harder, which we hope will help improve his vision.”

Aidan is monitored every 6 months

Ryan with his son Aidan

The State of the Nation report by Specsavers reveals as many as one in four Australian children have an undiagnosed eye condition.

With 80 per cent of learning taking place through the visual system, undiagnosed eye conditions can impact a child’s learning capacity.

“Vision plays an essential role in children’s physical, social and educational development,” says Specsavers optometrist Dr Greeshma Patel.

“Undiagnosed eye conditions in children like hyperopia, myopia and astigmatism, can severely impair a child’s education and wellbeing.

“We conducted research in March this year that found that as many as 1 in 5 parents are unaware that learning difficulties can often be a result of poor eyesight caused by an eye condition. This can be especially true for young children, who may find it hard to explain the difficulties they are experiencing or may be unaware they have a problem at all, making tests at a young age even more critical,” says Dr Patel.

Kids should get their eyes checked every two years

“While good vision is obviously important for education and learning, eye health can have wider impacts on a child’s development — everything from sport to social engagement. The signs of eye conditions and sight loss can be hard to spot, often having no visible symptoms at all, so it’s important we remind parents about the importance of regular eye checks.”

Eye conditions, along with allergies and asthma, are the most common long-term health problems experienced by children.

Early detection of any eye condition is critical but with children we have a window of opportunity, before they are eight years old, to identify and treat common eye conditions such as hyperopia, myopia and lazy eye, which can have no obvious symptoms.

Ryan, Sasha and their children Aidan and Imagen

“We want to encourage parents to get their own eyes and their child’s eyes tested, not just to check for any potential vision problems, but also to detect any potential abnormalities or diseases before it’s too late.”

Sasha says visiting the optometrist was best thing she could have ever done. “There is a big gap between what mums know about eye health and what optometrists can tell them. The guidance has helped our family so much” says Sasha.