14
SOLTIMES APRIL 2011
...remember to say you saw it in the SOL TIMES
Flamenco star comes home to Pilar Top flamenco dancer/ choreographer Nadia Marquez has been booked for two special ‘live’ performances in Pilar de la Horadada’s Casa de Cultura. Nadia’s professional style of traditional Flamenco dance has created a full career for her and her company, with a busy international schedule including appearances in Madrid, London, Berlin and most of the European capitals, as well as the
United States, but she will be taking time off to return to her home town of Pilar de la Horadada for two shows in May. She is accompanied by a full professional orchestra comprising guitar, percussion, violin and two singers to give a spectacular demonstration of the real art of Flamenco. The performances will take place at 7pm and 10pm on Saturday 14th May. Tickets at 12 euros are available from the Casa de Cultura reception desk or from El Pescadito restaurant, Mil Palmeras. More information 965 320 071 or 610 562 706
Worryingly low incidence of eye tests for children revealed across the Costa Blanca
In a survey conducted by Specsavers Opticas on the Costa Blanca to establish whether parents were taking their children to have their eyes tested, opticians were alarmed at the low incidence of those that were. Opticians recommend a yearly eye test for children from three years old, yet the survey revealed that in Torrevieja only 39% of all the respondents had taken their children to have an eye test with an optician. Worryingly, in Javea just 17% of children aged 6 – 12 years old have ever done so. This fact is even more surprising as 65% of the respondents there felt that poor eye sight could affect their children’s performance at school. Parents in Calpe performed better, with 67% of all respondents having taken their children to an optician for an eye test. Although this is still not as high as opticians would like, Calpe parents are leading the way compared to other towns surveyed in the Costa Blanca. Mike Stone, who is store director at Specsavers Opticas’ Calpe and Javea stores, commented “It’s great to see Calpe leading the way on the Costa Blanca with parents getting their children’s eyes tested, but I would like to see 100% of parents doing so. Regular eye tests can detect problems with your child’s vision and catch treatable conditions early, to protect their eyes and safeguard their vision.” Optician Colin Evans of Specsavers Opticas’ Torrevieja store added, “Regular eye tests are particularly important for children, as during the first 12 years of their lives, as much as 80% of learning is
accomplished through vision. One out of every four children has an undetected vision problem that may inhibit their progress. This shows the crucial role that eye tests play in caring for our children’s health and why parents should make sure their children’s eyes are tested by a qualified optician every year.” Signs that your child is having difficulty with their vision As a parent, it can be difficult to spot if your child has a vision problem, as children have no way of knowing if what they see is any different from what others can see. Also, as very young children, they are not able to communicate what the problem is. If you are concerned that there may be a problem with your child’s eyes, there are a number of tell-tale signs you can look out for: 1. Sitting too close to the TV 2. Rubbing their eyes repeatedly 3. Complaining of headaches 4. Becoming reluctant to read or look at small pictures or objects 5. Being clumsy 6. Squinting 7. The eyes behaving oddly when tired e.g. turning inwards or crossing The survey was conducted for Specsavers Opticas by Advent Communication, in the Costa Blanca and Costa del Sol, in December 2010. To mark World Health Day on 7th April, book an eye test at your local optician and make sure your children’s eyes are healthy and performing well. Specsavers Opticas are offering two glasses for the price of one on children’s glasses, visit www.specsavers.es to find your nearest store.