NEWS
Dungarvan Observer | Friday, 26 August, 2016
AS the Summer holidays come to a close and children prepare to return to school, there is one exam they should be taking before they step back into the classroom. Specsavers Waterford is warning parents that poor eyesight can have a significant impact on a child’s ability to learn and urging them to schedule an eye exam before the start of the school year. Specsavers Waterford store director Garvan Mulligan said, ‘Whether your child wears glasses or not, it is important to take them for regular eye tests to ensure that they have normal, healthy vision so that they can fulfil their academic potential. During the first 12 years of our lives, as much as 80% of learning is accomplished through our vision, yet, one out of every four children has an undetected vision problem that may inhibit their progress in the classroom. Poor eyesight can cause learning and behavioural problems as children may find it difficult to explain the difficulties they are experiencing with their eyesight. As children prepare to return to school for the start of the new academic year, now is the ideal time to arrange an eye
exam for your child to ensure they get the most out of their education. If detected early, some potentially serious conditions can be reversed.’ Specsavers Waterford recommends that children have their first eye examination at the age of three and continue with regular check-ups at least every two years. A child’s eyes won’t be fully developed until they are eight years old and, during this developmental period, many eye conditions such as amblyopia (lazy eye) and strabismus (crossed eye) can be easily corrected provided they are detected early enough. If undetected, they can lead to serious problems such as partial, irreversible sight loss. Many children struggle needlessly with vision problems simply because they don’t know they have one. However, there are signs you can look out for that may indicate a problem. Tell-tale signs your child could have a vision or eyerelated problem include: • Sitting too close to the television • Rubbing their eyes • Holding objects very close to their face • Blinking a lot
• One eye turning either in our out If you are concerned about your child’s vision you should contact the team at Specsavers Waterford to arrange an eye exam. Specsavers uses techniques suitable to your child’s stage of development such as specially designed charts that allow children to recognise shapes or pictures, or even to match letters, rather than the traditional charts so that the optician can test children’s eyes even if they are unable to read. As well as checking the eyes, the optician will also evaluate the muscles and associated structures to ensure they are healthy too. Specsavers Waterford also has a fantastic range of glasses for younger customers, with fun designs including Finding Dory, Minions and Frozen. All glasses in the €55 range are free with an under-12s’ HSE optical voucher. Plus children can also choose a second pair from the same range, to the same prescription for only €24. For more information or to book an appointment with one of the team please call (051) 877 500 or log onto https://www.specsavers.ie/stores/waterford
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A d d a n e ye e x a m a t S p e c s ave rs to yo u r b a c k to s c h o o l c h e c k l i s t
Ring Labrador to feature on new TV series THE life-or-death battle to save an 11 year-old Labrador from Ring will be the highlight of a new primetime television series to be broadcast on RTE Frankie with RTE’s Miriam O’Callaghan.
One TV on 13 September. The dog, known as Frankie, who is owned by Ring residents Tom and Josephine Curran, developed acute pneumonia fol-
lowing a life-saving respiratory operation and was given less than a 50-50 chance of survival. His operation, which was performed at Gilabbey
Veterinary Hospital in Togher, Cork, was filmed as part of ‘The Pet Surgeons’ series being broadcast on RTE One beginning this September. Frankie is already wellknown for inspiring the recent bestselling book Animal Crackers, written by author Colm Keane and his wife RTE newsreader Una O’Hagan. He appeared with the authors on Miriam O’Callaghan’s Saturday Night with Miriam show on RTE One TV in July. ‘Frankie turned up one morning at our gate, shortly after we moved to Ring from our previous home in Dublin,’ Colm Keane, who lives in Ring, told the Dungarvan Observer. ‘He was barking loudly and looking to be taken for a walk. He has done the same thing every day since, and we have become the best of friends. ‘Frankie belongs to our neighbours, the Currans, who treat him like a king. With us, he lives a second life, walking, swimming, chasing rocks, playing football, meeting other dogs and, when the weather is good, joining us outside our house for a snooze. He now spends a large part of his time with us and we travel everywhere together.
‘Unfortunately, he developed acute problems with his breathing and was not expected to live long. We took him to Gilabbey, where their surgeons performed a miracle opera-
tion. He was also treated successfully for a terrifying bout of post-operative pneumonia, which was lifethreatening.’ Frankie’s dramatic story,
including an interview with Tom and Josephine Curran and Colm Keane, will feature on The Pet Surgeons, at 8.30 p.m., on RTE One TV, Tuesday, 13th September. Frankie with author Colm Keane.