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Undetected vision problems can hinder a child's ability to learn. The following statistics illustrate the result of uncorrected vision.
- Vision problems affect one in twenty preschoolers and one in four school-aged children.
Source: Prevent Blindness America
- A 2005 report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed only 1 out of 3 children receives an eye exam before entering school.
Source: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- According to a recent study by the National Institutes of Health, neither trained nurses nor trained lay people using the best screening tests possible were able to identify almost one-third of even the most prevalent vision disorders in children in the study. Disorders such as amblyopia, strabismus, and refractive errors were missed during the study's screening process.
Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
- One of every six children is two or more grade levels behind in reading. Of these "slow" readers, 80% have difficulty in eye control and coordination.
Source: Optometric Extension Program Foundation
- 25% of junior-high school-aged children (11-14 years) can't read the blackboard because of myopia (nearsightedness).
Source: Helen Keller International
- 70% of juvenile delinquents in a recent study had vision problems.
Source: Study published in the Journal of Behavioral Optometry
- A report by the National Eye Institute states, "In children, visual impairment is associated with developmental delays and the need for special educational, vocational, and social services, often beyond childhood into adulthood."
Source: Report of the Task Force on Vision Impairment and its Rehabilitation, National Eye Institute
