CHILDREN will have their eyes tested in school again thanks to one mother’s campaign to get them reinstated after her son’s sight issues were missed.

Tracey Bryant, from Maidenwells, urged parents to have their children’s eyes tested last month after discovering there were no longer routine checks carried out in schools.

After discovering that her bright and active son Dillan, aged five, had limited sight in his right eye she was angry to find it could have been picked up much sooner with routine testing in school.

Hywel Dda University Health Board had phased out the tests five years ago, and was understood to be the only authority to do so.

Tracey was delighted to be told last week in letter from health board chief executive Steve Moore that the eye test will now be reinstated from next year.

It states: “The Children’s Vision Pathway will now be reintroduced and an implementation plan is being developed with the expectation that screening will commence during the 2017/18 academic year.

“Since receiving your letter, the importance of informing and recording advice given to parents in relation to a child’s 27 month check and preschool booster attendance, has been reiterated to all health visitors; this information will also be recorded in the child’s Health Record in line with the new Healthy Child Wales Programme, which came into force at the end of 2016.”

Tracey added: "I’m really pleased that eye testing will become part of the health screening in school once again – it’s a fantastic outcome, and I’d like to thank everyone who supported us in putting together a strong factual case, alongside Dillan’s story, which was presented to Hywel Dda.”

Joe Teape, Director of Operations for Hywel Dda University Health Board said: “The reintroduction of the children’s vision screening service across Hywel Dda has been identified as a high priority for the health board and we are pleased to confirm that this service will return during the 2017/18 academic year. The service had previously been withdrawn due to acute staffing issues.

"We fully recognise the importance of eye tests for children and in the absence of the full screening programme, parents have been advised to ensure that their child has a sight test annually with a community optometrist.”