Hannah Hampton: How a goalkeeper with a squint helped England win the Euros
We are #KCHFTProud of England women's national football team’s fantastic win in the UEFA European Women's Championship.
Inspired by goalkeeper Hannah Hampton’s outstanding performance (dubbed as our country’s penalty hero by fans and commentators alike), Kent School Health Screening Lead Michele Ellis is speaking up about the importance of looking after our children’s eyes.
In a blog for colleagues, Michele said: “Hannah Hampton was not supposed to make it as a professional athlete. The doctors told her it would not be possible. That professional sport was not meant for someone like her.
In Hampton’s case, ‘someone like her’ meant someone born with a condition called strabismus, otherwise known as a squint.
This was picked up early and treated but this has left Hannah with a depth perception problem, affecting her ability to tell how far away she is from one thing compared to another. Hannah has no depth perception, so she can’t judge any distances.
You may ask ‘How does that work as a ‘keeper?’. Hannah herself doesn’t really know but it just does. After saving two penalties in the final against Spain, she proved all her doubters wrong.
Hannah's story resonates with my team at Kent School Health of how important the vision screening we deliver in schools is, with the follow up advice we give parents for all children to have regular eye checks with their local optician.
Problems a child may have if a squint is not treated
It's important not to ignore a squint which can develop after three months of age. It could list to further problems if left untreated such as:
- persistent blurred or double vision.
- a lazy eye where the brain starts to ignore signals coming from the affected eye, so normal eyesight does not develop.
- embarrassment or low self-esteem.
Main treatments for a squint
- glasses
- eye exercises, prescribed by an orthoptist or optician.
- if a lazy eye develops because of a squint patching over the unaffected eye may help the affected eye.
Hannah and the team's achievements were amazing but the challenges that Hannah has faced have made that doubly so for her.
Well done England and bring on the World Cup!”
Our service offers
The Kent School Health Team visits schools to offer vision, hearing and height and weight screening in reception and year six. This is quick and simple and helps to spot any problem early.
