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Educational materials for parents and those who
care for children;
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Posters and flyers highlighting the importance
of regular eye exams for kids;
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Continuing education in pediatric vision care
for optometrists;
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Consultation with the PA DOH to revise vision
screening protocols;
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Education for school nurses on proper vision
screening techniques; and
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Education program for nurses and teachers about
the link between vision and learning.
This program was so successful the POA
licensed it to other state associations! This is also a good reminder that
these materials are still available to our members—request a free poster and
brochures by calling (717) 233-6455 or emailing Kelsey Rodkey, the POA’s
Communications Coordinator, at Kelsey@poaeyes.org.
In 2004, the
national InfantSEE® program was added to our KWH campaign. InfantSEE® is a
public health initiative of the American Optometric Association designed to
offer a one-time free eye and
vision assessment to infants under the age of one year. Over four hundred and
fifty Pennsylvania optometrists across the state have volunteered to provide
this public health service. These programs are incredible and they continue to
be relevant and important. However, the children of the Commonwealth need more.
Current vision screening programs are not adequate. Here are some facts that I
feel are important to share:
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The American Academy of Ophthalmology found
between 40-67 percent of children with failed screenings do not get the
necessary follow-up care.
·
National Eye Institute study of Vision in
Preschoolers found that even the most highly trained screeners using the best
equipment missed 33% of children with an eye or vision problem
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Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Reports,
in 2002, noted that 79% of children had not seen an eye care provider in the
past year.
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Of children aged 3-5 seen by a pediatrician,
only 66% received a vision screening (defined as spending 10 or more seconds
trying to get the child’s cooperation).
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One third of children with a late diagnosis of
amblyopia had undergone a screening as a preschooler.
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The Journal of the American Public Health
Association notes: 10% of preschoolers have vision deficiencies
(Pennsylvania has 75,200 students in preschool). 25% of children in grades K-6
have vision deficiencies (Pennsylvania has 318,000 students in grades K-6).
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We know the prevalence of vision deficiencies
increases for children at risk or classified as special needs.
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60% of “problem learners” have undetected or
untreated vision problems. The NJ Commission on Business Efficiency of the
Public Schools found children with reading difficulties fall into two
categories of visual problems: untreated or undiagnosed.
·
Current Ophthalmology reports that vision
disorders are the fourth most common disability in the U.S. and the most
prevalent handicapping condition in children.
·
Untreated visual deficiencies result in a 12%
reduction in wages.
You can clearly
see from all of this data something had to be done. The obvious answer to
addressing these significant problems with undetected vision deficiencies is
conducting a proper comprehensive eye examination on every
one of our children. Experience has shown that education alone
is not sufficient to correct the problem. The best solution is a system that
encourages regular, comprehensive eye examinations for all of our children. Our
next step as we work towards achieving these goals is to create a new coalition
that will work with our existing programs and go further for the visual
wellbeing of our children. This is how the idea for the CVCA came to be. The
mission of the CVCA is to establish a network of Pennsylvania optometrists who
agree to provide exemplary vision and eye care to children by following the American
Optometric Association’s Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guidelines,
promoting children’s vision, and networking with schools and other
professionals to improve the quality of children’s vision, thereby improving a
child’s chances for success in life. We are currently working to add CVCA
members. If you are already a member, thank you! If you are not, please
consider joining this important cause. It is simple to become a member of the
CVCA, all you have to do is complete the agreement found here: https://pennsylvania.aoa.org/Documents/PA/CVCA-LetterofAgreement.pdf
and send it to the POA (fax: 717-233-6833, mail: POA, 218 North Street,
Harrisburg, PA 17101, email: Kelsey@poaeyes.org).
I couldn’t be
prouder of the POA and our hard-working members than I am right now. This
program is a great example of the good we can do when we all work together for
the welfare of our patients. Special thank you to Dr. Ed Savarno (WPOS), Dr.
Tracy Sepich (MCOS), Dr. Perry Umlauf (BCOS), Dr. Dave Wagner (NWOS), and the
many other doctors who worked so hard to turn this important idea into the
CVCA. These doctors in conjunction with our Advocacy Division, our Board of
Directors, and our staff are currently working with Pennsylvania legislators to
create a Children’s Vision Bill. I look forward to seeing what is next to come!
Lori Gray, O.D.
POA
President
