Children's Vision Screening:

Good vision is critical to a child's health and performance. Early detection of a child's vision problems is very important, especially when identifying amblyopia and strabismus. That's why the VIP Council screens thousands of children through visits to private and parochial schools, libraries and day care facilities. These visits also enable the VIP Council to teach parents, educators and kids about ways to protect their sight.

• Treatment is more effective when vision problems are detected early
• The VIP Council screens almost 35,000 young people each year
• VIP Council volunteers help educate adults about the warning signs - squinting, headaches, difficulty reading - that might indicate childhood vision problems
• Staffers help children learn about ways they can protect their sight and avoid eye injuries during sports or play activities
• Through cooperative research projects with local hospitals, the VIP Council is helping doctors and scientists better understand, diagnose and treat childhood vision problems

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