According to the Better Vision Institute, 25 percent of children ages 5-12 have vision problems that could affect their performance in school.
Dr. Allison Schulte of Allison Eye Care, Inc. of Clarkston is making an effort to change that statistic locally.
Throughout the month of August, Schulte and her staff will be providing free vision screenings for children ages 3-18 in conjunction with National Children’s Vision and Learning Month.
‘We see so many who needed the care before they got it,? Leigh Mahaffey, business manager at Allison Eye Care, said.
Occasional health problems, such as headaches, can often be a leading indicator of a vision problem. Other common symptoms include using a finger as a place marker while reading, trouble seeing the chalk board while in class, skipping or rereads lines and squinting.
During the vision screening, Schulte will note the appearance of the eye to see if it is swollen or is watering. Distance acuity, which is the ability to see detail from a distance, is also checked during the screening. Finally, for children age 9 or in third grade, Schulte will check to make sure the child’s eyes appear to be working together.
After the screening, Schulte will notify parents if a child needs to have a professional eye exam.
The screenings are free of charge and are made by appointment.
‘We’re so excited about it,? Mahaffey said.
Proper screenings and follow up are crucial to healthy eyes. According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, children who fail a vision screening are at risk for serious problems. Between 40-67 percent do not receive the recommended follow up care needed to correct any problems.
In 1999, the National Parent Teacher Association stated that more than 10 million children ages 10 and under suffer from vision problems.
‘She’s doing this not just because she’s an optometrist, but because she cares about kids,? Mahaffey said.
Appointments are necessary for the free vision screenings which start Aug. 1. Call Allison Eye Care at (248) 922-1111 to make an appointment or to find out more information.