South Western Sydney Local Health District says eye checks for local children at the age of four are essential for the early identification and treatment of vision problems and to reduce the likelihood of permanent vision loss.
Universal screening for pre-schoolers in NSW is available through the Statewide Eyesight Preschooler Screening (StEPS) program.
As part of World Sight Day, the StEPS team is encouraging all parents to get their four year-old children tested.
“It is critical that this screening is provided to four year olds before they start school to maximise clinical benefit and outcomes for children,” says South Western Sydney Local Health District StEPS coordinator Lois Riley.
“If a child has impaired vision, they may think this is normal as they don’t have a baseline to compare it to. This is why it is so vital your child is screened.”
Free screening is available to all four year old children. StEPS screeners visit preschools and long day care centres across the District, and children who do not attend centres or are in home care can also access the free service.
Families can also ask their GP to test their child’s vision or refer their child to an eye health professional.
In South Western Sydney Local Health District, the StEPS program has made additional catch-up clinics available at local community health centres for children who may have missed out on vision screening in 2020 while the program was deferred for a few months due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Please find listed below all local StEPS catch-up clinics for the remainder of the year:
- Georges Hall Early Childhood Centre: 14 October, 11 November, 2 December
- Hoxton Park Community Health Centre: 15 and 23 October, 17 November.
- Narellan Community Health Centre: 21 October, 20 November, 11 December
- Fairfield Community Health Centre: 23 October, 13 November, 4 December
- Rosemeadow Community Health Centre: 12 November, 18 December
- Mount Pritchard Early Childhood Centre: 18 November, 4 December
- Ingleburn Community Health Centre: 23 November, 18 December
- Wollondilly Community Health Centre: 9 December
- Bowral Community Health Centre: 14 December
