A NORTH-EAST optometrist has won his campaign to improve eye care for children with Down's Syndrome.

Simon Berry, who has a practice in Gilesgate, Durham, has led a two-year campaign to change the rules on funding to help families buy specially made glasses for children with the condition.

Children with Down's Syndrome often cannot wear ordinary glasses and need more expensive specially fitting frames but until recently could only access vouchers providing extra financial support through hospital eye services, which could be distressing for children and gave them limited choice.

Now the voucher can also be accessed through their local opticians.

Mr Berry started an online petition and took the issue to Durham City MP Roberta Blackman-Woods, who raised the anomaly with the Secretary of State for Health and the Head of Primary Care Commissioning at NHS England.

Mr Berry, a children’s eyecare specialist, said: “This is fantastic news and something we have campaigned about for a long time. We first raised the issue with NHS England over two years ago.

“Under the old rules, patients with exactly the same clinical need received a different level of service depending on how they accessed the NHS service. It also varied throughout the UK depending where the patient lived, how individual authorities interpreted the regulations, and how referrals to local hospital departments are organised.

“It is a step change in caring for the vision of children with Down's Syndrome, and for those with conditions such as Microtia – missing or small ears - or facial cancers. Specialist frames can mean a better fit, fewer repairs and better quality of vision, which all make a positive contribution to a child’s quality of life.”

Ten-year-old William Dean, from Shincliffe, is one of those to benefit from the change.

His mum Beverley, who is a trustee of Down’s Syndrome North East, said: “We are hugely appreciative of the work Simon has done. His campaign will make a difference to children right across the UK and not just in the North-East."

Dr Blackman-Woods said: “When Simon first approached me in 2013 I could not believe that there was no provision for a special facial characteristics voucher to be obtained via the General Optical Services (GOS) and could only be attained from the hospital eye service.

“Although it has been a long time coming I am delighted with the outcome and hopefully many parents and children will benefit from the change in NHS regulations thanks to the persistence and determination of Simon and the charities involved.”