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See by Three - Helping to Eliminate Preventable Blindness in Fort Worth, Texas
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See by Three, the Children’s Eye Foundation’s vision screening program, is currently underway in and around Fort Worth and is successful in helping pediatricians and their staff conduct vision screenings for children. More than 50 medical professionals have attended See by Three training and have seen firsthand how the program can:
- Decrease the amount of time it takes to perform a vision screening
- Increase the quality of vision screenings performed in the doctor’s office
- Coordinate care for those children who have vision problems
- Help physicians evaluate vision screening devices at no cost
According to participating medical professionals, it takes about four to seven minutes to perform a vision screening on a 4-year-old. Through the program, this number can be cut in half. Additionally, See by Three trains medical professionals on vision screening practices that have been well researched and documented to be effective.
“We’ve seen a number of different wall charts— some with sailboats and even birthday cakes. The use of these charts is not supported by current research, nor are they approved by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). The good news is we are taking those charts off the wall and replacing them with charts that are approved and are more appropriate for 4 and 5-year-olds, all at no cost to the practice,” said, Thomas Rogers, program director.
See by Three also offers physicians the opportunity to evaluate objective vision screening devices. These devices extend the possibilities for screening vision to children as young as 18-months of age. Rogers says, “We’re offering physicians the chance to evaluate these devices in their office at no cost, to determine if they are a good fit. Our goal is to support pediatricians, and that their patients will continue to receive a quality vision screening well after our program has formally ended.”
By providing training and support for physicians, the Children’s Eye Foundation is helping to increase the number of children’s eye disorders that are detected. But detection is not the ultimate goal – successful treatment is. In some studies, only one half of parents follow up when they are informed that their child has a vision disorder. Ideally, See by Three will ensure that every child who has a vision disorder detected has that disorder treated.
When See by Three participants were surveyed, they most wished parents knew two things: the importance of following up when an eye problem is detected, and how big of an impact it can have when they choose not to. “I join my colleagues in our shared commit to inform parents about how important it is to follow up when an eye disorder is suspected. Early detection and timely treatment could save their child’s eyesight,” said George Beauchamp, MD, chairman of the Children’s Eye Foundation.
To encourage parents to make and keep follow-up appointments when a vision issue is detected and treatment initiated, See by Three reinforces that:
- A child who loses their sight to preventable blindness also loses about $140,000 in lifetime productivity.
- Vision disorders like strabismus can negatively impact a child’s social skills and personality.
- The longer treatment is delayed, the more difficult it can be to fix the eye disorder.
Because detecting eye disorders in children early is key to successful treatment, See by Three focuses on lowering the age at which vision screenings are performed, namely before a child starts school. The program has already demonstrated positive results. After training, the number of physicians who report they will begin screening at age 3 more than doubled.
Children like Jack, a little ambassador for the Children’s Eye Foundation, know first-hand how important it is that eye disorders be detected and treated at an early age. Jack’s cataracts were detected at a well-child visit with his pediatrician and likely saved his sight. Watch this video to learn more about this happy, healthy boy.
To view the list of participating physicians and for more information about See by Three, visit www.seebythree.org.
About See by Three
See by Three is the vision screening program of the Children’s Eye Foundation and has been successful in screening almost 10,000 children in Florida and West Virginia. Thanks to the generous support of Alcon Inc., the Amon Carter Foundation, the Robert D & Catherine R Alexander Foundation, the Allergan Foundation and many others, the program is now active in Tarrant County, Texas and will screen thousands of children and train hundreds of medical professionals on vision screening.
See by Three takes a three-pronged approach to vision screening, including training, research and public awareness.
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