…a National Public Health Program for Our Children

1. …a National Public Health Program for Our Children It’s never too early!

2. Eye See…Eye Learn .....is a partnership program, between interested parties, designed to ensure there are no visual barriers to prevent our children from reaching their full potential!

3. Overview of Our Presentation • What is the Eye See…Eye Learn program? • What is your Eye – Q ! • Children’s Vision Facts • It all started with a Pilot Project! • Administration and Logistics

4. Mission Statement • The Eye See…Eye Learn program is dedicated to the prevention, early detection and management of eye and vision problems which impact the health, development, education and welfare of our preschool children.

5. What is your Eye – Q ?

6. When should a child have their 1st Eye Exam? • When they cannot see the board clearly • When they are old enough to answer the questions (know their alphabet letters) • Before their 1st birthday (between 6 – 12 months of age) • When they are ready to begin school

7. CAO Recommends that… all children receive a comprehensive eye and vision examination prior to entering school. Early diagnosis and treatment ensures that children reach their full visual potential in a world that is increasingly vision demanding.

8. What percentage of children start school without ever having had a comprehensive eye exam? • 18% • 36% • 48% • 85%

9. Only 14% of children under the age of 6 have a comprehensive eye exam • It is estimated that only half of all children will have an eye exam before completing high school • 1 out of every 10 preschoolers have a vision problem • 4 out of 10 school age children have a vision problem • There is little understanding amongst the public of the importance of early/planned comprehensive eye exams

10. Your child is examined at their pediatrician’s office and you are told he/she has 20/20 vision; therefore, there is no need for a further comprehensive eye exam. • TRUE • FALSE

11. Common Myths • If my child sees everything I can – they must have good eyesight! • A parent will notice a problem with their child’s eyes if there is one! • No one wears glasses in my family – there is no family history of a problem - so my child won’t have one! • My child eyes have been checked at the pediatrician’s office and at our health unit – nothing was found!

12. What is the leading cause of vision loss in children? • Disease and pathology • Trauma • Hockey • Amblyopia (Lazy Eye)

13. Amblyopia • 4th most common disability in children. • Approximately 7,500 children develop amblyopia yearly in Canada. • Half (50%) of all children with amblyopia are diagnosed after the age of 5 when treatment is no longer as effective.

14. The majority of children identified as having reading difficulties also have an uncorrected or unidentified vision problem. • TRUE • FALSE

15. In reality… • Most parents and teachers will notnotice aproblem until it affects a child’s functional ability and by then it may be too late. • A comprehensive eye exam is so much more than simply examining a child’s eye sight.

16. A comprehensive eye exam assesses a child’s - • Near Vision: Ability to see clearly and comfortably at 25 – 30 cms. • Distance Vision: Ability to see clearly beyond arm’s reach. • Binocular Co-ordination: Ability of the two eyes to work together. • Eye Movement Skills: Ability of the eyes to aim accurately, move smoothly across a page and shift quickly from one object to another. • Focusing Skills: Ability of both eyes to accurately focus at the proper distance in addition to change focus accurately and quickly. • Peripheral Awareness: Ability to be aware of things located to the side while looking straight ahead. • Eye/Hand Co-ordination: Ability to use the eyes and hands together. • External and Internal Eye Health Assessment: Identifying any ocular disease.

17. Many children start school without one of the most important tools for success….good vision!

18. Children’s Vision Facts: • Senses are critical to a child’s development, but VISION is the most vital sense. • 80%of all learning during a child’s first 12 years of life is obtained visually.

19. There are UNMET needs…

20. When vision problems remain undetected or untreated… • Frustration with learning. • Failure to learn at the rate of their peers. • Negative self image. • Special education needs. • Discipline problems/Young offender. • Drop out!

21. The majority of children labeled as having learning problems have vision problems as well… School/Government Costs… • Increased Special Education Expenses Society’s True Costs… • Loss of Students’ “Potential” is PRICELESS!

22. Eye See…Eye Learn A community partnership to protect our most valuable investment/asset… OUR CHILDREN

23. A Pilot Project in Alberta became a community program! • Pilot Project took place in the 2003-2004 school year. • Involved Elk Island Public Schools. • Alberta Association of Optometrists. • Capital Health & East Central Health Districts. • Ministry of Children’s Services.

24. Pilot Project Objectives • Explore a method of increasing the number of children entering Grade One having had a comprehensive eye exam. • Track the incidence of visual disorders detected/diagnosed.

25. Overview of the ESEL Pilot • 1000 Kindergarten Students • 39 Teachers • 53 Classrooms • 25 Schools

26. Let’s “see” the results! • 452 children were examined (44%) • 6% were prescribed glasses • 8% were diagnosed with a binocular vision/accommodative problem (including amblyopia) In total – 14% of the children seen were identified with some form of a vision problem!

27. What did the Kindergarten Teachers say…. “Please do not let this program die. It is just too important!” “This is a program that should have been implemented years ago. It makes so much sense!” “Eye exams should simply be a requirement for all children upon entering the school system!”

28. What did the parent’s say… • 70% said this was the 1st comprehensive eye exam for their child. • 97% said they would now be including an eye exam on their child’s annual health check-up list. • 88% said they believe an eye exam should be one of the requirements for school entry.

29. As a Result of the Eye See…Eye Learn Pilot in Alberta • The Elk Island School District made “comprehensive eye exams” a permanent recommendation with their Kindergarten Registration Information. • The Community Working Group, Schools, Public Health and Eye Doctors continue to work together to increase awareness and help parents act on behalf of their children. • Government committed to see the Eye See…Eye Learn Program implemented province-wide with funding and full endorsement from Alberta Education and Children’s Services.

30. What is theEye See…Eye LearnProgram?

31. The Eye See…Eye Learn Team: • Provide pre-assembled Parent Information Packages. • Provide pre-printed Fribbit reminder notices. • Suggested “insert” for School Newsletters. • Provide access to download Fribbit’s Classroom Activity Kit. • Provide additional support and resources through the provincial optometric association (i.e. field trips or classroom visits) • Provide Kindergarten Teacher Information Sessions. • Co-ordinate information and resources for local health units and community optometrists.

32. Every Effort Has Been Made: • To eliminate or minimize extra work for our teachers. • To develop a process that is easy to follow and as convenient as possible for parents.

33. What is expected of the Board and Superintendent? • Support and encourage the concept of the Eye See…Eye Learn Program. • Provide a letter of endorsement “strongly recommending” children receive a comprehensive eye examination.

34. What is expected of the Principals/Assistant Principals? • Support and encourage the concept of the Eye See…Eye Learn Program. • Provide the ESEL Team with a list of kindergarten teachers and an estimated student count. • Allow distribution of the pre-assembled Parent Packages. • Encourage your teachers to attend the ESELTeacher’s Information Session.

35. What is expected of the Kindergarten Teachers? • Distribute the Parent Information Packages. • Collect and record returned eye exam forms. • Try to utilize the curriculum relevant Fribbit’s Classroom Activity Kit. • Use provided incentives and rewards for returned eye exam forms. • Distribute the Reminder Notices when required.

36. What are we asking of the parents? • Accept the Parent Information Package. • Have child undergo a comprehensive eye examination with an eye doctor of their choice. • Return the completed eye exam form to school.

37. WITH YOUR SUPPORT.. • Fewer children will begin school with undiagnosed vision problems! • Vision problems will not be a barrier to a child’s educational success or learning ability! • We are all investing in our future – OUR CHILDREN

38. THANK YOU