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PEEK!: Preschool Eye Exams are Key is a
national program developed to raise
awareness among parents and educators about
the critical need for children to receive a
comprehensive vision examination by age 5 or
before entering school and to provide tools
they both can use to achieve that goal.
PEEK! is a Sears Optical program in
partnership with the Vision Council of
America and in association with the National
Association of Child Care Professionals and
Children’s World Learning Centers.
This
guide, part of the PEEK!™: Preschool Eye
Exams are Key program, offers parents and
teachers valuable information and facts on
why it’s crucial for all preschoolers to get
a comprehensive eye exam by a qualified eye
care professional prior to entering school.
Kid's
Vision Facts
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Vision disorders are the fourth most
common disability in the United
States and the most prevalent
handicap in children. (Current
Ophthalmology) |
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Research indicates that among the 20
percent of school-age children who
have a learning disability in
reading, 70 percent of them have
some form of visual impairment… that
may be interfering with their
reading skills. (Optometry)
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Several studies examining the link
between learning disabilities,
delinquency, and vision have found
that significant numbers of juvenile
offenders had one or more visual
deficiencies. (Journal of
Behavioral Optometry) |
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Vision problems are associated with
developmental delays and the need
for special educational, vocational,
and social services, often beyond
childhood and into adulthood.
(National Eye Institute)
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Studies indicate that the earlier a
vision problem is diagnosed and
corrected, the less the potential
negative impact it may have on a
child’s development. (American
Optometric Association) |
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Ruling out simple refractive errors
is the first step, but they’re not
the cause of all learning problems.
There are other vision-related
problems — having to do with the way
the eye functions and how the brain
processes visual information — that
can make learning difficult. (allaboutvision.com) |
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(We) believe it is in the best
interest of children entering school
to receive a comprehensive eye
examination. (Ohio Legislature
Task Force on Better Vision) |
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Studies find that primary care
physicians are not consistently
conducting pediatric vision
screenings during clinical visits.
(American Family Physician) |
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Most parents inherently don’t
understand the difference between a
screening and comprehensive exam.
They mistakenly assume their
children’s vision is free from all
problems if they pass the screening
and may defer getting their child
the full exam. (Optometric
Management) |
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In Kentucky — the first state to
require children to obtain a
comprehensive eye exam prior to
entering school — nearly 18 percent
of 3-6 year olds that received an
eye exam were diagnosed with an
uncorrected vision problem while
only 6 percent of children tested by
a certified vision screener were
targeted for follow-up care.
(Vision Council of America) |
Help Vision Problems Early
Observe Discomfort.
Visible discomfort can mean an eye problem.
For example, eye rubbing, blinking or
squinting may mean difficulty focusing.
Light sensitivity, keeping eyes closed too
much and complaining of headaches or tired
eyes may also be signs of a vision problem.
Watch Behavior.
The behavior of children with vision
problems is often misunderstood. While they
are simply frustrated since they can’t see
well, they may be considered hyperactive,
slow learners, lazy or even as having
attention deficit disorder (ADD).
Notice “Visual
Performance” Skills. By age five or
so, preschoolers should have some basic
“visual performance” skills. These include
using eyes and hands together well and with
improving skill, drawing names and pictures,
copying simple forms and some letters,
placing small objects in small openings and
moving/rolling eyes in an expressive way.
Eye the Eyes.
Look into a child’s eyes for signs of
possible vision problems. These include
unusual redness of eyes and/or lids, lid
droopiness, crusted eyelids, styes or sores,
tearing, and eye direction.
Get Comprehensive Exams.
A simple vision screening is not good
enough. A comprehensive eye exam by an eye
doctor can check for complete eye health to
ensure the eyes are performing the best they
can and early, accurate detection of eye
problems such as amblyopia (lazy eye),
strabismus (crossed eyes), and others.
Even if a child does not
show any symptoms, he or she may still have
a vision problem. That’s why it’s so
important for a child to get a comprehensive
eye exam before entering school. |
