Page 5 - Phonebox Magazine May 2009

Are you a good parent?
We all try to be! Recent research shows that very few of us ever think about having our babies and children’s eyes tested. Seeing well is important in everything we do.
Why is a full eye examination necessary?
Babies quickly develop vision as good as adults. However, development can be interrupted and the child can be left with a “lazy” eye.
Eye tests are not part of the routine developmental tests, you will probably have no idea there is a problem and children themselves have nothing to compare their vision with. Up to 10% of young people have problems with their sight. This can affect their education and future career choices.
Much of what a child learns is visual and even a slight imbalance of focusing can make it difficult to concentrate. School sight tests are becoming increasingly rare and even when done are no substitute for a full eye examination.
What can you do?
Take your baby or child to the Opticians! There is no lower age limit and being able to read or speak is not necessary!
What will happen during the examination?
The optometrist will ask you about any family history of eye problems and any symptoms. The examination itself consists of a lot of fun tests which include checking vision, eye coordination and the health of the eyes. Most children really enjoy themselves!
You can ask lots of questions and your optometrist will tell you whether specs, eye exercises or other treatments are needed or will reassure you that your child’s eyes are normal!
Everyone at Davis Optometrists enjoys looking after babies and children. Although getting the pushchair through the door can be a bit tight, a very warm welcome, patience, cups of tea and toys await!
HAVE YOUR SAY
Letters
Dear Editor
The letter in the April
Phonebox attacking the
popular Liberal Democrat Focus made me smile. The writer said he did not want to be a Victor Meldrew, I have to say “I don’t believe it.”
I am surprised that he feels that the most recent election results are unhelpful, and do not paint a true picture of the standing of the political parties in the constituency. He then listed the 2005 General Election result for North East Milton Keynes. What he failed to mention was that the General Election, whenever the Prime Minister chooses to call it, will be very different boundaries, which will clearly give a different result.
Woburn Sands and Walton Park (once a strong Conservative area, the other a Lib Dem/Con marginal) move out of the constituency, Wolverton, which was until the last election a Labour stronghold before the Liberal Democrats won it in 2008, moves in.
You also need to understand that at the last local elections Labour did not hold or gain a single council seat in the MK North Constituency, and are now second in only two wards in Milton Keynes North, their party in Milton Keynes is a twitching corpse, which is not going to rise from the dead. The graph on the Focus was based on real votes, taken from real election, covering the very area which will be fought at the next General Election – and voters will be faced with a choice; either a Conservative MP or Jill Hope from the Liberal Democrats. More of the same or time for a change, Labour are a poor third in Milton Keynes North.
Incidentally, Jill Hope did reply fully and promptly to the writer’s email about road pricing, a reply which she copied to me.
Regards, Councillor Sam Potts
Liberal Democrat – Representing the villages
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Phonebox Magazine 5