Bid to boost sports culture could be hampered by poor eyesight

However the millions invested may not benefit children whose poor eyesight affects their ability to throw and catch a ball.

Alex Gage, who owns two practices in Crosspool and Woodseats, is keen to stress the importance of children’s eye care and says eye health can affect other skills such as depth perception, tracking skills and peripheral vision.

“It is important for a child to have regular eye tests to make sure both eyes are developing as a pair,” said Alex Gage, who holds a diploma in sports vision.

Figures from a survey by Sight Care, an organisation of independent opticians, show that almost a fifth of children said they struggled to see the ball when playing sport.