Seeing Clearly - Back to School Eye Exams

Covering 29 cities in just a few hours, Bill Nye the Science Guy and Leonard Press, O.D. of the New Jersey Society of Optometric Physicians, appeared live on TV and radio stations as part of a satellite media tour on July 31. They used the opportunity to discuss the importance of eye examinations before school begins and to urge parents to visit www.mychildsvision.com.

This site, jointly hosted by the AOA and Vision Service Plan (VSP), includes an Eye Care Discovery Activity Guide and questions and answers about topics such as school vision screenings and computer vision.

On the Web site, "eye-opening facts about classroom-related vision problems and comprehensive eye exams" include...

According to the AOA, one in four kids in a classroom has vision problems and 60% of "problem learners" have undetected vision problems.
The AOA's American Eye-Q® survey reports only 39% of adults understand that behavioral problems can be an indication of vision problems.
Results from a 2007 survey by VSP Vision Care show 65% of children nationwide have not had an eye exam in the last 12 months. The AOA recommends children receive comprehensive eye exams beginning at 6 months, then 3 years old and annually when school begins.
Comprehensive eye exams are necessary to detect problems that a simple vision screening can miss, such as eye coordination, lazy eye, and near and farsightedness.
There is no reason to have even one child - let alone thousands - slip through the cracks and never reach their full potential because of preventable and treatable vision problems.