Children are now required to have a visual evaluation before entering school for the first time in Nebraska, just as they are required to have a physical examination. The new law is designed to provide an evaluation of the child's vision that is more complete than vision screenings, enabling parents, healthcare providers and schools to better identify children whose vision may not be sufficient to enable the child to learn to his or her full potential. The examination must include testing for: Amblyopia (lazy eye), Strabismus (turned eyes), Internal eye health, External eye health and Visual Acuity.
Dr. Filips also recommends testing for:
Refraction, which is how nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism are diagnosed.
Subtle misalignment problems that cause eyestrain or difficulty reading.
Depth perception, which indicates the ability to combine images from each eye.
Color Vision, which affects classroom activities.
Convergence which is the ability of the eyes to comfortably turn inward to focus while reading.
Pursuits which are the smooth tracking movement of the eyes
Saccades which are the rapid eye movements used while reading.
More than 80 percent of learning in the classroom is visual, and it is apparent that if a child cannot see, a child cannot read, and if a child cannot read, a child cannot learn. Based upon national statistics, as many as 4,500 Nebraska children enter school each year with vision problems significant enough to hinder their ability to learn. Undetected vision problems often result in students being placed in the wrong treatment track (e.g. remedial reading, special education) at costs to parents and the state. Students with a vision disorder will likely not focus on the book, blackboard or computer or attempt to complete schoolwork and may be labeled with a behavior disorder due to their inability to "behave" in the classroom. Many of our state's young children are faced with overwhelming social and emotional challenges that can impact their ability to learn, but vision is one part of the equation that can most likely be controlled. Preventative measures include proper detection through a complete eye exam.
Dr. Filips recently saw a child who was failing Kindergarden because she had not had her Kindergarten exam. It turned out that her vision was only 20/100 at distance and near and her eyes were trying to cross because of her high farsightedness.
"I am confident that this little girl would have done well in Kindergarten and passed on to first grade if she had been able to see the letters and numbers the teacher was trying to teach her" said Filips. "Now her entire life is delayed and disrupted because a lack of an exam and glasses" he added.
Filips Eye Clinic in Hartington and Creighton is offering reduced price examinations for new Kindergarten students. The examination is complete and thorough, including dilation to detect hidden problems and a prescription if necessary. Kindergarten students examined in May or June only of this year will receive a $20 discount. No special appointment times are needed, any regular appointment time can be used. For new patients the fee will be only $75 and for established patients it is $70 during May and June only.
There are several sources of financial aid for needy families, visit www.nechildrensvision.org or call Filips Eye Clinic, P.C. Hartington 402-254-2020 (toll free 1-877-254-2015) or Creighton 402-358-3700 if you have questions.
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