The State-wide Eyesight Pre-schooler Screening (StEPS) program is an initiative of NSW Health and offers all four-year-old children free vision screening before they start school. Almost 700,000 preschoolers in NSW have benefited from free eyesight screenings through the StEPS program, which is now in its 10th year.

Through the StEPS program, Registered Nurses visit preschools and childcare centres to conduct eyesight screening with children who are due to start school.

Additional clinics have been scheduled to allow those children who have yet been seen to have their eyesight checked prior to starting school.

These clinics will be conducted at Port Macquarie Community Health Centre on Thursday, 24 January from 9am to 11.30am and Coffs Harbour Child and Family Health centre on Thursday 31 January from 8.45am to 11am.

Mid North Coast Local Health District StEPS Coordinator Wendy Mutton said early detection and treatment of eye issues at age four can correct some eye disorders, preventing the life-long need for glasses and is of huge benefit for a child’s education.

Why do children need their vision screened?

·         Children rarely complain of eye problems

·         Children may not realise they can’t see well

·         Some children can see well with one eye but have poor vision in the other eye

·         Children’s eyes may look OK and parents/carers might think that their child can see well but some children might still have a vision problem

·         The only way to tell if a child has a vision problem is to have the child’s vision tested one eye at a time.

For an appointment, contact the Mid North Coast Local Health District StEPS Coordinator on 6656 7061 or email MNCLHD-StEPS@health.nsw.gov.au