HB 5760, An Act Concerning Preventive Strategies for Vision Problems in Young Children

The Public Health Committee has raised the CAO’s proposal on Children’s Eye Examinations.  The legislation, HB 5760, An Act Concerning Preventive Strategies for Vision Problems in Young Children, was sponsored by Rep. Peggy Sayers, and requires that children receive a comprehensive eye examination before they enter public school. A public hearing on the bill will be scheduled soon.

We urge legislators to support this important initiative as:

• 80% of learning is accomplished through the visual system
• The earlier vision disorders are detected, the better the prognosis
• Vision Disorders are the LEADING handicapping condition in American children
• Vision screenings are an important tool, but do not replace comprehensive examinations performed by an optometrist or ophthalmologist
• The NEI's (National Eye Institute) VIP (Vision in Preschoolers) Study has found that screenings performed by trained healthcare professionals still miss 30% of children with vision disorders.
• 70% of children with learning disabilities have a vision problem which may be interfering with their ability to read and learn

Federal Legislation has already been introduced in Washington to assist states financially in implementing this type of legislation. HR 507 would establish a federal grant program focusing on treatment to bolster children's vision initiatives in the states and encourage children's vision partnerships with non-profit entities, including groups as committed to the cause of safeguarding the sight of America's children as state optometric associations.

Legislative Fact Sheets:

Connecticut’s Children Deserve Eye Exams, Not Just Screenings

Providing Eye Exams to Connecticut’s Children Won’t Cost the State, Won’t Create Local Mandates