A HALESOWENis warning parents not to ignore "unseen" changes in their children's eyesight that could hold them back at school - just like what happened to eight-year-old Jake Mathers.

Scrivens Opticians & Hearing Centre in the Cornbow shopping centre has launched a "You Can't See the Signs" campaign to encourage parents to get their children's eyes tested as part of their "back to school" routine.

It includes a "child-friendly" comic strip to help get the message across and to "demystify" the procedure for children getting their eyes tested - and it is based upon the experience of eight-year-old Jake, who was complaining to his mum that he could not see the white board at school.

His mother, Jo Mathers, of Kings Heath, Birmingham, said: "I was concerned that Jake was missing out on his education and becoming distracted in class because he couldn't read what was on the board.

"He had been cleared of having problems with his eyesight following a school test but I now realise that doesn't mean perfect vision for life.

"Getting his eyes tested was the best decision ever, as he did need glasses, and his schoolwork improved almost overnight."

Jake was so enthusiastic about his new glasses that he became the inspiration for the comic strip.

Scrivens' Halesowen branch manager Danielle Evans said: "Being able to see properly is vital to a child's learning and undiagnosed sight problems can be detrimental to a child's achievement, behaviour and enjoyment of school.

"Even though most children get a basic check of their eyes in reception years at school, this doesn't always check everything that's covered in a full eye examination at an opticians.

"As a child grows out of their uniform and shoes, so can their eyesight change too.

"The NHS covers the cost of eye tests for children so parents don't need to pay.

"We should be seeing children regularly, often at least annually, and we urge parents to follow their optician's advice and make appointments as recommended."

She added: "Understandably children can sometimes feel nervous about visiting the optician for the first time.

"So we've taken the experience of one of our young customers and created a comic strip and, in a light-hearted way, tell the story.

"Feedback has been really positive and we hope it will help encourage more families to consider going to the optician as routine as going to the dentist or getting feet measured