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The Children’s Eye Foundation’s See by Three program is a three-point program aimed at significantly reducing amblyopia in young children by the year 2010.
- Developing and distributing an informational program dedicated to educating health professionals, including pediatricians, family physicians and school nurses about amblyopia and other ocular diseases.
- The design, implementation, and evaluation of a standard vision screening and treatment program to be replicated nationwide.
- An awareness campaign to explain amblyopia and stress the importance of vision screening in preschoolers.
West Virginia University Vision Initiative for Children (VIC)
The first program is the West Virginia University Vision Initiative for Children (VIC), with Geoffrey Bradford, MD, pediatric ophthalmologist, as the Chief Investigator. It is Dr. Bradford’s plan to properly train, equip, and support 120 (52%) of the state’s licensed pediatricians on the most effective way to perform vision screening for children between the ages of three and five.
Nemours Children’s Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida
The second program, located at the Nemours Children’s Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida has Robert W. Hered, M.D., Chief of Ophthalmology, as the Chief Investigator. It is Dr. Hered’s plan to also train pediatric offices through workshops and instructional CDs that will be distributed to all pediatricians and family physicians throughout the state of Florida.
These two projects will last for approximately 18 months at a cost of approximately $800,000.
In addition to the projects, CEF plans to launch a public relations campaign with our spokesperson, Heisman trophy winner and Arizona Cardinal Quarterback Matt Leinart. Matt is a successful Strabismus patient who wore “Coke-bottle” glasses as a child. Both Matt and his parents are dedicated to speaking to the public about his story and the importance of vision screening in young children.
The Need
Each year, close to four million children are born in the United States. Research suggests that at least 1 in 20 and possibly even 1 in 10 of these children experience a vision disorder that can lead to permanent vision impairment if the disorder is not identified and treated.
Based on the initial data collection collected and reported in the federal Department of Health and Human Services report, Healthy People 2010, 35% of children considered to be Poor by government definitions had received a vision screening before the age of 5. 38% of children defined as Near Poor are screened by this age and only 36% of children that are defined as Middle/High income have had a vision screening before age 5.
Researchers estimate that the effect of amblyopia and other detectable vision disorders costs the United States up to $32 billion each year. Conversely, they estimate that the annual cost of vision screening is estimated to be no higher than $1.5 billion, thus making vision screening an extremely cost effective endeavor.
Measuring our Success
During the course of this 18 month project, Dr. Bradford and Dr. Hered will train close to 150 pediatricians and their staff using the guidelines set out by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Ophthalmology.
We anticipate that over 14,000 children will be screened in both states during the 18 month project. By training health care providers, the community benefit is amplified as these professionals continue to screen children after project completion.
The Children’s Eye Foundation will use the knowledge gained and data collected to assist other cities and states to develop successful screening programs. With the launch of a national project, we hope to reach and exceed the Healthy People 2010 goal of screening 52% of children below the age of five. |
