Back to school means back to basics
August 31, 2010We all know that getting a pre-school eye examination is critical for learning success in the classroom. Many experts believe that 80 percent of a child’s learning comes through their eyes.
But did you know that currently, there are only three states that require a school-entrance level eye examination prior to entering school — my home state of Kentucky, Missouri and Illinois!
As optometrists, we must be proactive in advocating for our patients’ right to access comprehensive eye examinations. These examinations not only ensure that our children get off to the right start in school, they also ensure that vision difficulties are distinguishable from learning disabilities.
At the national level, the AOA has been working to pass The Vision Care for Kids Act (H.R. 577/S. 259). If passed, this bill will ensure that children from uninsured and non-Medicaid eligible families who are identified with vision problems get the care they need through a federal grant program designed to strengthen children’s vision and learning programs in the states. The bill has already passed in the House and is being considered right now in the Senate.
You can make a difference by writing a letter to your U.S. senators in Washington, urging them to consider this legislation, as it provides an important first step toward comprehensive eye examinations for all children. You can contact your state legislator and advise them of this school-entrance level eye examination law and how it would benefit the children in your state by identifying vision problems and visual disorders. You can also contact your state optometric association and their optometric leadership and offer to work with them to pass a school-entrance level eye examination law in your state.
In my own practice, I’ve personally seen the positive benefits of the school-entrance level eye examination law for children. After Kentucky passed its school eye examination law in 2000, a state legislator (who supported this bill) came to me and told me that his child received help for treatment of amblyopia that was found as a direct result of the school-entrance level eye examination law. He said he would have never thought that this legislation would have impacted his own family. His child was fortunate to learn of this problem early while many of America’s children are not.
As a member, the AOA offers free, educational resources available online to assist you in encouraging parents to schedule an annual eye exam before the school year begins:
- A survey parents can take to quiz their knowledge of children’s vision topics;
- Frequently asked Q&A’s regarding children’s vision; and
- A downloadable flyer for parents titled “Understanding the Difference Between Vision Screenings and Vision Examinations.”
In addition, members can order by request a free media took kit titled “Ready for School: Promoting Healthy Vision for Successful Learning.” The kit supports grassroots promotion of the importance of comprehensive eye exams for children. Some of the information includes:
- Sheets for parents that describe the difference between a comprehensive exam and vision screening;
- A news release that can be tailored to send to media in your area;
- A children’s vision power point presentation on CD that can be used for community presentations or in your waiting area; and
- A sample of the “Ocular Emergencies: What to Do” card for school nurses.
Members can request the free tool kit by sending an e-mail to the AOA Public Relations Department at publicrelations@aoa.org.
In closing, I can’t emphasize enough for us to STAND UP FOR THE CHILDREN. Please work with your state optometric association to work at the state level to pass the school-entrance level eye examination law.
A recently published study demonstrated an improvement in children’s test scores in Kentucky since the enactment of the school-entrance level eye examination law. Sadly, in spite of this data and other published studies that point to the benefits of school-entrance level eye examinations, there remains a core of detractors who choose to ignore the data in favor of personal agendas and personal bias.
It is time for all states to join the first three, stand up for children, battle those personal agendas and fight on behalf of America’s children’s best interests.
Sincerely,
Joe Ellis, O.D.
AOA president
