On 5 October, we celebrate World Teachers' Day, a date dedicated to honouring the essential role that educators play in the formation and development of children and young people.

Teachers are much more than transmitters of knowledge; they are guides, mentors and often the first to spot signs that something might not be going well with their pupils, whether it's academic performance or health.

One of the areas in which teachers can play a crucial role is in the early detection of potential visual difficulties in children. Many vision problems, such as myopia, hyperopia or astigmatism, can go unnoticed, especially among the very young, who often don't know how to identify or communicate these difficulties.

A student with vision problems may have difficulty concentrating, poor academic performance or even unmotivated behaviour, often attributed to other factors when, in reality, the cause may lie in their vision.

In a school environment, teachers are in a privileged position to identify warning signs such as difficulty seeing the board, a habit of squinting, frequent headaches or a tendency to get too close to books or electronic devices.

Early detection of visual problems can make all the difference to children's educational and personal development, allowing for early intervention and avoiding more serious future problems.

On this World Teachers' Day, we're highlighting yet another example of how the role of teachers goes far beyond the classroom. These professionals are, and will continue to be, fundamental pillars in the integral development of our children.