The Missouri Children

1
The Missouri Childrens Vision Law
2

• 1. Common vision disorders in children
• 2. Purpose for the law
• 3. History of the law
• 4. Details
• 5. Childrens Vision Commission
• 6. Difference between exams screenings
• 7. Financial questions
• 8. Resources for help

3
Common Vision Disorders

• Myopia (nearsighted)
• Hyperopia (farsighted)
• Astigmatism (oval shaped cornea)
• Amblyopia (lazy eye)
• Strabismus (eye turn)
• Focusing problems
• Accommodation
• Convergence

4
Myopia (nearsightedness)

• Blur at distance
• Trouble seeing the chalkboard
• Light focuses before it reaches the retina
• Causes
• Eye too long
• Cornea too curved
• Corrected by
• Eyeglasses
• Contacts

5
Hyperopia (farsighted)

• Blur at near
• Trouble seeing books
• Light focuses after reaching the retina
• Causes
• Eye too short
• Cornea too flat
• Corrected by
• Eyeglasses
• Contacts

6
Astigmatism

• Blur distance and near
• Caused by irregular shaped cornea
• Corrected by
• Eyeglasses
• Contacts

7
Amblyopia

• Blur at distance and near even with correction
• Causes
• Developmental
• Refractive
• Eye turn
• Treatments
• Patching
• Atropine drops
• Glasses, contacts
• Vision therapy

8
Focusing Problems

• Typically affect reading only
• Focusing muscles not working properly
• Accommodation
• Convergence
• Corrected by
• Eyeglasses?
• Vision Therapy?

9
Strabismus

• May cause double vision
• Poor depth perception
• Distance
• Near
• Causes
• Muscle imbalance
• Hyperopia
• Corrected by
• Eyeglasses, contacts if refractive
• Surgery may be necessary
• Vision Therapy may be necessary

10
Purpose for the Law

• 80 of learning comes through vision
• Vision disorders rank as the most prevalent
  handicapping condition in childhood.
• 5 of children are identified as having vision
  problems during a typical vision screening.
• Yet, 10-12 of preschoolers have vision
  deficiencies
• 6 of children who fail a school screening will
  not receive a comprehensive exam
• Only 15 of children under the age of five have
  received a comprehensive eye examination.
• 60 of children with learning disabilities also
  have undetected vision disorders

National Eye Institute
11
History of the Law

• Original bill was sponsored by Speaker of the
  House Rod Jetton.
• Speaker Jettons son had a vision disorder that
  wasnt diagnosed until he had an eye examination
  by Dr. Steve Tilley.
• The bill that passed this year was sponsored by
  Rep. David Pearce in the house and by Sen.
  Delbert Scott in the senate.

12
Law Details

• Beginning July 1, 2008 all children entering
  kindergarten or first grade are required to have
  a comprehensive eye examination. Evidence of the
  exam shall be submitted to the school no later
  than January1, of the school year.
• The law sunsets in 2012, when it will be
  re-evaluated by the Childrens Vision Commission
  and the Missouri legislature.
• Parents may opt out of the examination with
  written notice to the school district.
• There are no penalties associated with the law.

13
Childrens Vision Commission

• Two optometrists
• Two ophthalmologists
• One school nurse
• One Rep. from Dept. of Elementary and Secondary
  Education
• One Rep. from Missouri School Board Association

14
Childrens Vision Commission

• Establish statewide guidelines for exams and
  reporting process
• Monitor exam results and make recommendation to
  state legislature on whether to continue law at
  its sunset.

15
Whats the Difference Between an Eye Examination
and a Vision Screening?
16
Vision Screenings

• Often performed by pediatrician, school nurse or
  volunteer
• May detect myopia, hyperopia, color or depth
  perception problems
• Amblyopia screenings?
• Not comprehensive but very valuable

17
Comprehensive Eye Examination

• Performed by optometrist or ophthalmologist
• Can detect and treat myopia, hyperopia,
  astigmatism, amblyopia, strabismus and focusing
  disorders

18
Whos going to pay for the exams?

• Estimated that 70 of these children already have
  insurance coverage for comprehensive eye exams.
• Parents responsibility
• Blindness Education Fund
• Charitable organizations, ie. Vision Service
  Plan, Cerner First Hand Foundation.
• Donations by the doctors.

19
Its ALL About our Children!

• Every single child in Missouri deserves to
  opportunity to reach their full potential as a
  student.
• Educators have been mandated with No Child Left
  Behind
• 80 of learning during a childs early school
  years is through vision.
• Without at least one comprehensive eye exam, some
  of our children will continue to slip through
  the cracks.

20
Resources

• Missouri Optometric Association
• www.moeyecare.org