WHY is vision screening important?
The first few years of a child?Äôs life are critical in the development of good vision. Children should have their vision checked for issues such as misaligned eyes, and problems that need correction with eyeglasses. These problems are not always evident by simply looking at a child. Young children often compensate for vision problems so well that parents, teachers, and pediatricians are unaware of a problem. Many common vision-robbing conditions such as ?Äúlazy eye?Äù can be effectively treated if detected in a child?Äôs formative years. Age group from 6 months to 6 years is the prime age group to be tested.
KidSight, a Lions Club community service program provides a simple, non-invasive and cost-free vision screening test performed on young children. It requires no medication or preparation and is painless. It does require parental permission.
KidSight screens for the following:
?Ä¢ Hyperopia ?Äì ?ÄúFar-sightedness?Äù is the difficulty seeing objects that are near. Untreated this can contribute to ?Äúcrossing of the eyes?Äù but can be corrected with glasses.
?Ä¢ Myopia ?Äì ?ÄúNear-sightedness?Äù is when the eyes focus incorrectly, making distant objects appear blurred. It can be treated with glasses.
?Ä¢ Astigmatism – A condition in which the cornea has an abnormal curve causing out-of-focus vision.
?Ä¢ Anisometropia ?Äì This condition can adversely affect the development of binocular vision in infants and children. The brain will often suppress the vision of the blurrier eye in a condition called Amblyopia or ?Äúlazy eye.?Äù
?Ä¢ Strabismus ?Äì Eyes are not directed to an object simultaneously. Sometimes the eyes deviate outward and sometimes inward.
Free examination dates:
?Ä¢ Kimball Expo, April 1, at the Kimball Area High School sponsored by Kimball Lions Club
?Ä¢ Watkins Easter Egg Hunt, April 8, at the Skating Rink sponsored by Watkins Lions Club
Day Care Providers: If interested in providing Vision Screening for your kids and need more information, contact your local Lions Club or Lion Duane Finger at fingerelec@meltel.net.
Lions Vision Screening is made possible by a Lions Club International Foundation Grant and Contributions from Minnesota Lions Vision Foundations and all local Clubs that support the Minnesota Lions Vision Foundation.
Duane Finger
Kimball Lions Club