Association for Pediatric Vision Launches Nationwide Free Vision Screening Training for Children
TAMPA, Fla., August 21, 2023 (VSNewsNetwork.com) - The Association for Pediatric Vision, under the umbrella of Lions World Vision Institute, has announced the launch of a new vision screening curriculum, designed to promote early detection of vision challenges in infants and youth aged 0 to 5. This curriculum will be offered free of charge nationwide to individuals interested in becoming certified vision screeners.
Developed with the support of federal grant funding, the new curriculum is aimed at addressing the lack of vision screening services available to young children beginning their education in elementary schools across the United States.
Dr. Melissa Z. Petro, the Program Director for the Association for Pediatric Vision, emphasized the importance of early screening, stating, "Early vision screening can help identify potential problems with sight skills by detecting vision challenges that may hinder development and negatively affect social and emotional well-being."
While pediatric optometrists and ophthalmologists typically perform eye exams, early community-based screening by teachers, nurses, parents, and other professionals can facilitate the detection of issues such as amblyopia, strabismus, and refractive errors.
The training consists of five modules and is offered at no cost, but certification requires a $99 fee. The curriculum has been designed to provide comprehensive background knowledge and essential skills to ensure accurate and current vision screening for children.
Dr. Petro anticipates that over 50 individuals will participate in the training this fall and expressed hope that awareness of the need for early screening will continue to grow. "Vision is a strong predictor of academic performance in children, yet, one in four children have an undiagnosed vision problem," she noted, underscoring the organization's commitment to reducing this disparity through accessible and standardized training.
For more information about the Association for Pediatric Vision, visit https://lwvi.org/.
Source: Association for Pediatric Vision via Newswire
