Anger at 'postcode' eye treatment

Dyslexia affects reading skills

Children with reading problems are being denied help because of a postcode approach to eye treatment, according to health campaigners.

Experts say that as many as one in 10 school children could have difficulty in learning to read and write because of dyslexia.

There is growing evidence from eye specialists that this could be tackled through the use of cheap coloured spectacles.

But these are not available anywhere on the NHS and parents of dyslexic pupils often have to pay privately to see if their children can be helped in this way.

Dyslexia is usually first detected when it is observed that reading is not developing at an appropriate pace.

In many cases a range of symptoms, such as deficits in short-term memory and motor co-ordination, are also detected.

Free screening

These symptoms can all have a negative impact on learning, causing some pupils to fall behind at school.

In some cases, pupils can be treated using spectacles with coloured lenses.

Scottish campaigners say that because the treatment is new and specialised a "postcode lottery" has emerged.

In some parts of the country screening is free, while in others parents have to pay.

They want to see screening for the condition becoming routine for all primary pupils.

However, the Scottish Executive said it was spending millions more on special education and was not convinced the coloured lenses would be cost-effective.