Toby Smith had a rare eye condition

BBC News Online spoke to one family whose son developed problems that were not picked up.

Seven-year-old Toby Smith came within just one month of going blind.

He had been suffering difficulty reading at school and joining in with his fellow students.

But no-one suspected that Toby had something wrong with his sight until an eye test revealed a very rare condition called uvietis - inflammation of the iris.

In the two years since his condition was diagnosed Toby, from Norfolk, has had four operations and although he is registered partially sighted he can still see with the help of his bi-focal glasses.

Lucky

His mum Sarah said Toby had been one of the lucky ones, but said she hoped her case would act as a warning to other parents.

"We just keep reminding ourselves how lucky we are.

My son came within one month of being blind for life Sarah Smith

"Toby has had four operations now and is partially sighted but leads a totally normal life.

"When he put on his glasses the first thing he noticed was that the leaves were falling off the trees - he hadn't realise it was autumn.

"My son came within one month of being blind for life. He still has his sight now - but so many other children don't."

Report

The Royal National Institute of the Blind (RNIB) is urging parents to ensure their children take up their free eye tests.

Anita Lightstone, of the RNIB, said: "Children rarely tell their parents that they can't see well as they don't realise they have a sight problem.

"But a free eye test at your local optician can help diagnose a problem.

"Some common conditions such as short and long-sight, eye muscle co-ordination problems and most lazy eyes can be corrected and glasses are not always necessary."

Recent studies, involving 3,000 children, showed that between 17-22% of school-age children had an undetected eye condition.