Lions Clubs Encourage Early Childhood Vision Screenings

Health screenings are a traditional part of the back-to- school season
throughout the country. Eye screenings in particular are important for
children entering school for the first time, since vision and learning
are inextricably linked.

Health screenings are a traditional part of the back-to- school season
throughout the country. Eye screenings in particular are important for
children entering school for the first time, since vision and learning
are inextricably linked.

According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, vision problems
affect one in every 20 preschoolers and one in four school-aged
children. Unfortunately, most children do not receive proper eye
screenings prior to entering school. Studies show that only about 20
percent of preschool children have their vision screened through
government or private programs.

Photoscreening is a screening method that uses a camera to photograph a
child's eye. It can detect conditions such as lazy eye, farsightedness
and nearsightedness, cataracts and misalignment of the eyes.

More than 430,000 pre-literate children in the U.S. between the ages of
6 months and 5 years have been photoscreened for such vision problems
through their local Lions clubs. Nearly 26,500 of them have been
referred for treatment.

These photoscreenings, which are done by trained volunteers, are a
cost-effective way to identify vision problems in children and have been
shown to be 85 percent to 90 percent accurate.

Vision disorders are the fourth most common disability among children in
the U.S. The earlier children are screened, the better the chance of
preventing permanent vision loss.

A child might be exhibiting signs of a vision problem if he or she:

* rubs his or her eyes often;

* has trouble focusing;

* blinks more than usual;

* squints when focusing on

distant objects;

* frowns excessively;

* stumbles over small objects;

* is sensitive to light;

* has inflamed or watery eyes.

If you notice any of these signs in your child, contact your doctor or
check with your child's school or your local Lions club for screenings
in your area.

Lions Clubs International - recognized worldwide for its service to the
blind and visually impaired - also dedicates itself to helping those
less fortunate in communities around the world.