A report by the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) found an estimated 13 per cent of UK children may have undiagnosed common sight problems that undermine their literacy and education.
These conditions include short-sightedness, squints and amblyopia, also known as lazy eye, all of which can limit children's ability to distinguish letters or follow the actions of teachers.
The report also warns that children from poorer families are less likely to have their sight conditions treated following diagnosis.
The EEF's Preparing for Literacy report recommends that since the NHS does not have a national screening programme, early years services should be vigilant for potential eye conditions and encourage parents to access eye tests for children.
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