Local NonProfit is Providing Free Trainings for Early Vision Screening

Tampa, FL—During her early career in optometry, Dr. Melissa Zaleski Petro was conducting vision screenings for young children at a community health fair. She met a lovely young girl named Maya, whose parents had brought her to the fair. She noticed that Maya was having difficulty seeing out of her left eye, and recommended that Maya see a pediatric optometrist for further evaluation. Maya’s parents thanked her and she gave them her card just in case they had additional questions after they returned home. A few weeks later they called Dr. Melissa to let her know Maya’s diagnosis, and they thanked her again for urging them to make an appointment with the optometrist. This event set Dr. Melissa Zaleski Petro on her current path with the Lions World Vision Institute, and instilled a passion in her to bring awareness to the critical need for babies and young children to get their vision checked before they attend elementary school.

Dr. Melissa, as she is affectionately referred to by her adorable patients, their parents and her colleagues, takes great pride in her work for children’s vision at The Association for Pediatric Vision as their Program Director and Vision Health Programs Manager. The Association for Pediatric Vision was founded with a mission to inspire and impact the world with improved children’s vision through vision screening protocols for children five and under.

During my visit with Dr. Melissa at the Lion's World Vision Institute located in Ybor City, Dr. Melissa filled me in on the importance of preventative vision screening for infants and toddlers. The first few months of a baby's life are a time of rapid growth and development. During this time, the baby's visual system is also undergoing significant changes. As a result, visual skills that will become crucial for later learning and development are beginning to develop.

As infants grow, their ability to focus on and track objects with their eyes develops, and they begin to perceive depth and distance, and recognize faces. Within the first few months of age, infants can better distinguish colors and shapes. They can follow moving objects with their eyes. By six months of age, infants can perceive details in objects and recognize familiar faces. Hello Mom and Dad!

Early vision screening can help identify potential problems with these skills by detecting vision problems that may hinder development and negatively affect social and emotional well-being. A pediatric optometrist or ophthalmologist can perform an eye exam. Early screening can detect vision problems such as amblyopia, strabismus, and refractive errors that may cause visual development delays and affect a child's quality of life.

Early Identification of Vision Problems is critical to a baby's subsequent development. Amblyopia, commonly known as lazy eye, is a vision development disorder that affects 2-3% of children. Strabismus, or crossed eyes, is a misalignment of the eyes that affects approximately 4% of children. Refractive errors, such as nearsightedness or farsightedness, affect about 25% of children. Early vision screening can help identify these vision problems. However, not all children have access to a pediatric optometrist.

Early identification and treatment of vision problems can help prevent or reduce the impact of these conditions on a child's visual development. Treatment may involve glasses, contact lenses, vision therapy, or surgery, depending on the nature and severity of the condition.

Improving outcomes for children through early identification and treatment of vision problems is crucial. Early detection and treatment of amblyopia can prevent vision loss and improve visual acuity, depth perception, and eye coordination. Similarly, early detection and treatment of strabismus can prevent long-term visual impairment and social difficulties.

Dr. Melissa stated, "Naturally we believe parents should ensure that their children receive regular eye exams, including during infancy and early childhood. Early detection through vision screenings and diagnostic comprehensive eye exams are critical to avoid irreversible vision loss from early in childhood and on. After a certain point vision stops developing, just like a leg bone, for example, stops growing. This is why eye care and early intervention is a must in early childhood."

In recent years, there has been a growing awareness of the importance of early childhood vision screening. Many organizations, including schools, pediatricians, community health centers, and volunteer community organizations have implemented vision screening programs for young children to help identify vision problems early on. These vary in scope and focus.

Pediatric optometrists play a critical role in these programs, providing expert evaluation and treatment for children with vision problems through follow-up comprehensive eye exams. A large distinction in vision screening is that it can help detect a problem, while a comprehensive eye exam can diagnose the problem and provide treatment options. By working together with parents, pediatricians, and other healthcare providers, pediatric optometrists can help ensure that every child has access to high-quality vision care.

However, early screening is not available for some communities. We believe major caregivers can find greater success in identifying vision issues with a standardized vision screening training program and become certified to conduct vision screening for young children. This is a secondary goal for the Association for Pediatric Vision (APV), by providing this certification for caregivers and other healthcare providers. The cost is $99 for the certification with badges and shareability while the training itself is completely free. It is designed to walk a participant through vision background knowledge and screening essentials so screeners can provide the most accurate and up to date vision screening possible for children.

At APV, the team continually asks, "How can we do more and make a greater impact?" That’s where the community comes in! A simple “spreading the word” campaign for moms, dads, and caregivers would really be a game changer! The more people who know about early vision screening, the more we can help children succeed when they start their primary education. We know that improved vision can positively impact learning, social development, and overall quality of life.

APV is urging parents to prioritize their children's health and development, including their vision. By ensuring that all of our children receive regular eye exams, including during infancy and early childhood, we can help identify and treat vision issues early on.

What happened to Maya? After visiting the optometrist, it was confirmed that Maya had amblyopia, and she began treatment to strengthen her left eye. With consistent treatment, Maya's vision improved, and she was able to see more clearly with both eyes. This will impact her success throughout her whole life!

Don't wait - join the APV today and help promote healthy vision for every child. Together, we can ensure every child has the best possible chance of developing healthy vision and achieving their full potential. Join APV's newsletter and member program at this link, it is free to all who access this resource.

To reach an APV staff member, call 813-289-1200 or write to: APV@LWVI.org .

To enroll in the next Pediatric Vision Screener Certification Class for caregivers, teachers, and healthcare providers, write APV here: APV@LWVI.org .