JSEI Affiliates provides volunteer support for these vision screenings
in our local community. The screenings target children aged 3-5
years old, and help identify refractive errors and eye muscle problems
at this early age allowing for follow-up to correct problems before
they develop into serious impairments.
The importance of preschool vision screenings for young children cannot
be overstated. The reality, however, is that it is often overlooked.
80% of information received by the brain comes in through our eyes.
Thus, if a child is not seeing properly, that child's capacity to
learn can be impaired. Undiagnosed early childhood vision problems
can result in developmental problems, learning disabilities, and
potential irreparable damage to the visual system. The other reality
is that children in this young age group do not realize they are
not seeing properly and, consequently, cannot alert an adult to
the problem. According to Prevent Blindness America, vision
problems affect 1 in 20 preschoolers. Therefore, early screenings
are an essential tool for identifying children with problems, to
get them on their way to healthy vision.
