Many children wearing a patch for amblyopia treatment will have been excited to see the central character in the new Disney Pixar movie, Elio, wearing a patch.
While the reasons for Elio wearing a patch are a little different, many children wear an eye patch as treatment for an orthoptic condition called amblyopia, where vision in one eye is underdeveloped. As well as providing these children with a positive role model, this kind of visibility is a positive step in raising awareness of a real-life condition that affects up to 5% of children.
We have recently launched our #WePatch campaign to raise awareness of amblyopia and occlusion therapy, where a child is prevented from seeing out of their good eye through the use of a patch or eye drops, to help the weaker eye improve. As part of the campaign, we’ve launched a series of resources for children and the adults who support them, such as information leaflets and an animation on patching.
You can find out more and access all of these resources on our #WePatch page.
Amblyopia, while treatable, can lead to permanent but preventable vision loss if not detected early. It is estimated that 1 in 50 children will develop this condition, but it is rare for children to complain of poor vision, particularly if it only affects one eye, meaning this can easily go unnoticed. Vision screening is therefore vital to make sure that the condition is picked up early and children receive treatment at an age when it is most effective, usually before the age of seven.
While all children in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are screened for the condition, our recent survey found that around 75,000 children in England currently miss out on school vision screening each year. We are campaigning for a mandated national screening programme in England to ensure all children receive the same care when they need it, regardless of where they live.. You can find out more and get involved here.