The PTA Resolution states an estimated 10 million children below the age of 10 have vision problems which affect their ability to learn. Vision disorders are the fourth most common disability in the United States and the most prevalent handicapping condition in childhood. Between 8-12 million children are affected. Kentucky passes vision bill requiring professional eye evaluation for all students before starting school.
Children are the least likely age group to visit an eye care professional.
Current California school vision screenings require testing for distance visual acuity for all students and color vision for boys only. The Snellen distance acuity test was developed in 1860 and measures only how clearly a child can see a row of letters from 20 feet. It does not test the visual skills related to reading. A lack of learning-related vision skills may be setting some youngsters on the path to hard core juvenile delinquency as early as first, second or third grade. Students who were rated as poor in motivation and performance by parents and teachers were statistically more likely to have eye teaming, focusing, eye movement and visual form reproduction problems.