Screening Tips
A vision screening program will already be established in the majority of your local programs. Please do not equate support with screening vision or creating a vision screening program unless that support is requested.
The goal is to work collaboratively. Instead, ask your local Head Start and early childhood programs if they need assistance with, or have questions about, enhancing their vision health system of care.
Examples include:
- Be available 1 hour a week to answer questions from your local programs.
- Provide an e-mail address where local program personnel can ask questions and designate someone from your staff to answer those questions in a timely manner.
Share the 12 Components of a Strong Vision Health System of Care your local programs. Ask program personnel if they need assistance with any of the components. For example, programs may want assistance with providing educational material for parents about what occurs in an eye exam or tips on compliance for children wearing eyeglasses.
Financial barriers can prevent follow-up eye exams when children are referred from a vision screen. Consider offering one free eye exam a month for parents who cannot afford an eye exam. Perhaps your local Lions Club will help support the costs.
Discuss how programs wish to receive eye exam results and strategies that program personnel can implement to help ensure treatment plans are followed.
Place links to AAPOS, the YOCV, and the National Center for Children’s Vision and Eye Health on your practice website and link your local programs to your practice website.
YOCV Program Partners
- National Head Start Association
- National Center for Children’s Vision and Eye Health at Prevent Blindness
- American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus
- School Health Corporation
- The Good-Lite Company
YOCV Supporters
- The Binocular Vision
- Perception & Pediatric Optometry Section of the American Academy of Optometry and CVS Caremark