Originally published October 17 2005
New research focuses on vision problems in preschoolers
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
Completing Phase II of the National Eye Institute's "Vision in Preschoolers Study," researchers have determined that 25 percent of America's preschoolers have some kind of vision problem.
According to Prevent Blindness America, one out of every four preschoolers has some kind of vision problem.
Nearsightedness (myopia) is the ability to see near objects more clearly than far objects.
It occurs because the shape of the eye is elongated, causing images to fall in front of the retina.
In farsightedness (hyperopia), distant objects are seen more clearly than near objects.
In children with farsightedness, the eyeball is shorter than normal, causing images to land somewhere behind the retina.
Strabismus (crossed eyes) is a condition in which the two eyes aren't properly aligned.
The condition is most often caused by either strabismus or unequal focusing power between the eyes.
Yet, only about 20 percent of preschool children have their vision checked through screening programs.
The goal of the study was to determine if lay screeners could screen preschoolers for vision problems as effectively as trained nurses.
Investigators used four of the best screening tools based on evidence from an earlier screening study.
The Lea Symbols VA Test measures contrast sensitivity using pictures (a heart, house, circle and square).
The Stereo Smile II Stereoacuity Test checks for how well a child uses both eyes together.
The study compared the ability of nurses and trained lay screeners to detect children who needed a complete eye examination for potential vision problems.
Investigators found the trained lay screeners were about as successful as the nurses in using the tests and finding children who needed a more thorough examination - correctly identifying up to 68 percent of preschoolers with at least one common vision problem.
Increasing the number of trained screeners would enable more children to be screened for vision problems before they go to school.
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