Vision Screenings: Keeping Eye Health in Sight


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Vision Screenings: Keeping Eye Health in Sight
Needham, MA - Your child may receive a vision screening during the course of the school year as part of the school's regular health program. If you take the screening results out of the backpack and find that your child didn't pass, what should you do? Katie Yeilding's mother, Denise, took Katie to the eye doctor immediately and is very glad she did.
When Prevent Blindness Northern California screener, Rosaly Cipparrone screened Katie, her right eye was recorded as 20/200 and her left eye was 20/20. That is, what Katie's left eye could read from 200 feet away, her right eye could only read from a distance of 20 feet - a difference of ten times. According to the screening, Katie was at risk for amblyopia. Amblyopia develops when the brain receives conflicting images from the eyes, as was happening with Katie. Over time, the brain begins to ignore the signal from the weaker eye, eventually blocking it completely.
"If children come home with a failed screening notice, you should definitely take them to an eye doctor," says Mary Ellen Herd, Executive Director of Prevent Blindness Massachusetts.
When Katie's mother took her to an eye doctor, the screening results were confirmed. With her right eye, Katie could barely read the large E on the eye chart. Happily, six weeks into her treatment Katie's vision was almost fully corrected.
"We are very thankful for the early detection of Katie's vision problem," said Denise Yeilding. "She continues to wear glasses for the farsightedness, but her eye doctor believes the glasses are not permanent."
Children, who rub their eyes excessively, shut or cover one eye, tilt their heads forward or blink more than usual should be taken for an eye examination. For an extended list of warning signs, call Prevent Blindness Massachusetts at (781) 433-9900, or Prevent Blindness America at (800) 331-2020, and request the free brochure, Signs of Possible Eye Trouble in Children.
Vision problems are not uncommon in young children. In fact, preschool vision screening programs show that one child in 20, between the ages of 3 and 5, has some kind of eye problem. A professional examination for every child, including those who do not display any signs of eye trouble, is recommended shortly after birth, at 6 months of age, before entering school (age 4 or 5) and periodically throughout the school years. Screenings are very useful, but are not substitutes for complete professional examinations.

Celebrating 90 years of saving sight, PREVENT BLINDNESS MASSACHUSETTS is an affiliate of PREVENT BLINDNESS AMERICA, the nation's leading volunteer eye health and safety organization dedicated to fighting blindness. PREVENT BLINDNESS' nationwide network of affiliates, divisions and chapters serve millions of people each year through public and professional education, community and patient services programs and research. For more information on vision, eye health and safety, call (800) 331-2020 or (781) 433-9900 or visit www.preventblindness.org on the Internet.