PTA Proposed Resolution

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Proposed (your state) PTA Resolution

IMPORTANCE OF

COMPREHENSIVE EYE AND VISION EXAMINATIONS

Education and Legislation

WHEREAS,   It is estimated that one-in-four school-aged children have a vision problem; and

WHEREAS,   Undiagnosed and untreated vision impairments during the important formative years of a child’s development can interfere with learning and contributes to poor performance in school; and

WHEREAS,   Vision screenings are limited, cannot provide a diagnosis nor prescribe treatment, and can only identify possible vision problems, thus leaving the children not identified at risk with undetected and untreated eye or vision problems; and

WHEREAS,   Eye and vision problems, including amblyopia, a loss of vision which develops after constant suppression of vision of one eye and usually needs to be diagnosed by the age of 6 years in order to prevent the leading cause of monocular blindness in children and young adults, are best detected and treated early; and

WHEREAS,   Vision screening is not a substitute for a complete eye and vision evaluation by an eye doctor; now therefore be it

RESOLVED, That (your state) PTA, through its constituent organizations, provide information to educate members, parents, teachers, administrators, and the public at large about children’s vision and the critical importance of comprehensive eye and vision examinations;  and be it further

RESOLVED, That (your state) PTA, through its constituent organizations, urge school officials, state health departments, and technicians administering vision screenings to notify parents, before a vision screening is conducted, with a disclaimer that states:  “Vision screening is not a substitute for a complete eye and vision evaluation by an eye doctor;” and be it further

RESOLVED, That (your state) PTA, through its constituent organizations, urge schools to encourage parents to have their children undergo comprehensive eye and vision examinations before entering school and throughout the school-aged years;  and be it further 

RESOLVED, That (your state) PTA, through its constituent organizations, support legislation requiring an eye examination, by an optometrist or ophthalmologist, for all children entering kindergarten (or first grade) as a necessary prerequisite to academic learning.