Alberta Association of Optometrists

Free Program Aims to Cure Vision Problems in Kindergarten Students

  Marketwire – One in four children that began kindergarten this year may be experiencing learning difficulties because they cannot see properly. The Alberta Association of Optometrists (AAO) is tackling this problem head-on by offering exams and eyeglasses to Alberta kindergarten students.

  It’s all part of AAO’s Eye See…Eye Learn(R) program that promotes vision wellness among kindergarten-aged children. Good vision gives any student a better chance to succeed but it’s particularly important for those just starting out, says AAO President Dr. Jason Pearce. “An undiagnosed vision problem in a child can have serious learning consequences now and in the future,” he points out.

  AAO is raising awareness of the problem and encouraging parents to get their children a comprehensive eye exam. Education packages were delivered across Alberta last week through schools to parents of kindergarten students.

  “Every child should have their eyes checked by an optometrist, who is an eye doctor, before they start elementary school because it is so fundamental to learning. There is no excuse not to do it,” says Dr. Pearce. He noted annual eye exams for children are paid for by Alberta Health and Wellness and AAO provide free eyeglasses if needed. Last year, 1,600 kindergarten students received free eyeglasses from Alberta optometrists, 60% of whom got them for the first time.

  Research shows that 80% of all learning is visual and that 60% of children experiencing reading difficulties likely have uncorrected or undetected vision problems. Of the 51,000 kindergarten aged children in Alberta, only 33% had an eye exam in 2010. Of these, 16% were myopic (cannot see items at a distance like a white board) and 84% were hyperopic (cannot see items near to them like books).