According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), nearly 1 in every 1,000 U.S. children has low vision or is legally blind. Vision impairment alters how a child understands and functions. Impaired vision affects a child's emotional, neurological, and physical development by potentially limiting the range of experiences and the kinds of information a child is exposed to (CDC, 2000). According to the CDC, children with vision impairment very often need services such as special education programs to assist in their development. Costs for these programs exceeded $145 million in the 1995-1996 school year (CDC, 2000). In order to address this problem among school-aged children, Palmetto Health Alliance has established the Vision Initiative. This Initiative is designed to provide free comprehensive eye examinations and eyeglasses to children throughout Richland County, South Carolina. The Vision Initiative targets students in kindergarten through 12th grade in Richland County schools who have no vision insurance (including Medicaid) and are at or below the 200% of poverty level. This year, 223 children received a comprehensive eye exam from a licensed optometrist as a result of this program. Of those children, 183 (82%) needed eyeglasses. The glasses were provided free of charge to the patient and the impact made upon the child's life was priceless.
Learning Objectives: After attending this session, the participant will be able to: 1. Link vision health to overall health in children. 2. Identify resources in the community that can be used to develop a vision examination program for low-income, uninsured children. 3. Develop an action plan to maximize community resources to create a vision examination program for low-income, uninsured children.
Keywords: Child/Adolescent, Vision Care
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Palmetto Health Alliance
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.