FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT:Erika Borodinsky, 202.973.3625[email protected]
HEALTHY VISION CAMPAIGN FOCUSES ON MAKING THE GRADEOne-in-Four Grade School Children Suffer from Vision Deficiencies
Washington, DC, August 23, 2001 -- A survey released today by the Vision Council of America (VCA) found that 76 percent of Americans believe that before entering their first year of school children should be required to have a comprehensive eye exam. As a result, VCA is announcing the launch of "Check Yearly. See Clearly.," an educational campaign that will encourage regular comprehensive eye exams for children and adults.
Additional studies show that 80 percent of all learning during a child's early years in school is obtained through vision. Yet 10 percent of all preschoolers and 25 percent of students in Kindergarten through 6th grade -- one out of every four -- have vision deficiencies, according to the American Public Health Association.
VCA's campaign takes its cue from legislation enacted into law in Kentucky last year that requires a comprehensive vision exam before a child enters kindergarten. Preliminary data collected on 3,000 Kentucky students revealed a wide variety of previously undiagnosed conditions, ranging from a need for corrective glasses to diagnoses of sight-threatening conditions such as amblyopia ("lazy eye") and even life-threatening conditions such as brain tumors. Specifically, 12 percent of 5 year-olds and 19 percent of 6 year-olds were determined to need corrective glasses or other follow-up care.
"Making a child's first test a vision test will prepare children to enter school ready to gain the knowledge and skills that will remain with them their entire lives," said Dr. Joel Zaba, M.A., O.D., member of the Better Vision Institute -- an advisory expert panel to the VCA. "How well a child can see will have a great impact on how much and/or how quickly they will learn."
While vision screenings for children are useful for offering an early indication of problems relating to distance vision, they miss other critical vision deficiencies that can impact a child's eye health and development. The simple vision screening -- a distance vision test using a Snellen chart -- only identifies five percent of vision problems in children, according to the American Foundation for Vision Awareness.
However, a comprehensive eye exam measures a number of functions that are critical to a child's healthy vision, such as color vision or visual alignment, among others. These functions are essential to a child's success in school, whether reading the blackboard, reading a book, or learning on a computer. Additionally, undetected vision problems in children can also lead to social and behavior difficulties in school.
Dr. Zaba recommends a comprehensive eye exam before entering pre-kindergarten or kindergarten; and in some situations an eye exam may be needed at an earlier age if the parent or pediatrician notices some type of vision difficulties in the child.
Ten signs that might be seen in a child with vision difficulties are:1. Squinting, closing or covering one eye2. Holding a book close to the face3. Losing his/her place while reading4. Headache, nausea or dizziness5. Excessive clumsiness6. Tilting the head to one side7. Frequent daydreaming8. Using a finger as a place mark while reading9. Performing below potential
Vision Council of America is offering a free brochure and a self-test to determine if a child or other family member is in need of a comprehensive eye exam. Consumers can get more information via VCA's website (www.checkyearly.com) or by calling 1-800-424-8422.
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The Better Vision Institute is a unique body that brings together the vision community's three professional disciplines - ophthalmology, optometry and opticianry. It provides the only forum in which these three professions can come together to address America's vision health. It is an independent, not-for-profit advisory board to Vision Council of America.
Vision Council of America is a nonprofit trade association representing the optical industry. VCA is available to supply reporters with industry statistics, product for photo shoots and expert spokespeople.
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