New Specsavers survey reveal more than one in four (26%) UK parents worry that their child is covering up issues with their eyesight. 

It also found common behaviours most reported by parents with children aged six to 15 which suggest they might be having sight issues.

These include:

• their child sitting too close to the TV (a Close Encounter Enthusiast) 43%
• frequent complaints of headaches (The Headache Hero) 46%
• always sitting at the front of their class (The Teacher's Pet) 44%
• delaying bedtime to avoid reading (The Reading Rebel) 37%

However, over half (55%) of London parents admit to overlooking these behavioural signs with 25% saying they have never considered their child might need glasses, and with one in five (29%) confessing they have never taken their child to the opticians. 

The study shows that this might be because over half (53%) parents prioritise other health appointments for their children over eye health checks. With doctors' appointments (74%), the dentist (55%) and vaccinations (49%) taking priority.  

Of the 34% of parents who said their child currently wears glasses, over half (55%) revealed they missed the symptoms indicating potential sight issues. 

Admittedly, 98% of those surveyed across the London region wish they'd spotted the tell-tale signs earlier. 

This is not a new phenomenon. Three years ago, the issue was brought to the media's attention by former singer and presenter, Rochelle Humes, who candidly shared her experience about her daughter's eyesight issues.

On social media, she explained how her seven-year-old had been complaining about her eyes, but she admitted to overlooking this, thinking her daughter was stalling before bedtime. 

In a statement, she said: "Alaia has been complaining about her eyes and that she wants to sit at the front of the class with her friends so she can see better, she also says that her eyes are blurry every time it's time to go to bed. 

"I honestly have been dismissing it, I thought she was stalling going to bed and wanted to sit at the front of class so she could gossip with her best friends. Turns out I was wrong. She needs glasses...How do I feel? AWFUL!" 

Today's study further identified that the average age at which a parent first takes their child to the optician is six years old, with over half (48%) going for a routine check-up and nearly a quarter (24%) if they have a family history of eyesight issues. Meanwhile, 37% of parents admit to only going if their child's teacher advised them.

This is despite experts at Specsavers recommending children have their first eye test at three and a half years old.  

Among the reasons for not booking an appointment sooner, nearly two-thirds of parents (64%) said they didn't think their child had any issues with their vision, while 47% assumed that they were conducted at school. 

Notably, 39% identified fear as a barrier to not getting their child's eyes tested, with almost half (46%) saying they worry about their child being picked on at school for wearing glasses, and over half (65%) attributing it to a fear of having their eyes touched. 

Overall, 16% of parents said they don't feel very informed about the importance of eye health for children.  

Kid and computer. (Photo: Specsavers)

Specsavers Clinical Services Director Giles Edmonds says: "A lot of parents assume that because their child doesn't display any signs of a vision problem, there's no need to have their eyes tested. 

"However, this couldn't be further from the truth. Ensuring your child has regular eye examinations from an early age is incredibly important for several reasons. Given more than 80 per cent of our learning, cognitive and social abilities are facilitated through our sight, it's extremely important to your child's overall development.  

"Poor eyesight can cause learning and behavioural problems. Conditions such as squinting and amblyopia (lazy eye) can be treated more effectively if they are picked up earlier, which could make a huge difference to your child. Lastly, an eye test doesn't just check vision. It can also detect other underlying health conditions.". 

The Head Tilter: If your child has perfected the art of tilting their head to read a book, it's a sign that they might be hiding issues with their eyesight. 

Close Encounter Enthusiast: If your child makes a habit of sitting too close to the TV, this could be a sign that they are struggling to see the details. Sitting too close to the screen could in turn cause additional eye strain. 

The Pirate Poser: If your little one is often seen closing one eye when completing tasks, they may be doing this to favour their stronger eye and could highlight an uncorrected vision problem. 

The Teacher's Pet: Sitting at the front of each class to get a good view of the board could be a sign that your child is struggling with their vision. 

This week marks Children's Book Week (6th – 12th November) so do make sure your child's eyesight is checked out, so they can enjoy their favourite stories. All children under 16, as well as those under 19 in full-time education, are entitled to an NHS funded eye test.

To find out more about children's eye tests, visit: https://www.specsavers.co.uk/eye-test/childrens-eye-test