Fall 2012 - Indiana University School of Optometry

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ecommended it: 23.9%. K. Saw a TV ad or pamphlet about importance of children’s eye exam: 2.2%. L. Friend or related child had an eye problem: 6.2%. M. Other: 22.6%. Question 5: If your child is/was older than 1 year old at his/her first eye exam, what may have caused you to not bring him/her in sooner? Please rank up to your first 2 choices by putting a number 1 next to the main reason and a number 2 on the second reason. A. My child was seen before 1 year old by an Optometrist/Ophthalmologist: 6.2% of parents said this was their main reason and 1.3% of them said this was their second reason. B. Did not think an eye exam could be done on young children and infants: 21.2% said this was their main reason and 9.7% said this was their second reason. C. Child did not appear to have any problems thus thought didn’t need an exam: 42.5% main reason and 17.7% second reason. D. Cost: 3.1% main reason and 4% second reason. E. Thought a pediatrician/ nurse/ school screening would find any problems: 9.7% main reason and 23% second reason. F. Did not know babies and infants can have vision problems: 1.3% main reason and 3.1% second reason. G. Don’t think untreated vision/eye problems in children will cause any long term effects: 0% main reason and 1.3% second reason. H. Other: 8%. Question 6: If you think a child can see well and doesn’t appear to have any problems, when do you think their first eye exam should be? A. Within the first year of age: 8%. B. 1 to 2 years old: 18.1%. C. 3 to 4 years old: 34.6%. D. 5+ years old: 33.7%. E. Never if no problems are noticed: 2.2%. Question 7: Do you think that a meaningful eye exam can be performed at: (Circle Yes or No on All) A. 6 to 12 months? 37.2% of parents said yes and 60.2% said no. B. 1 to 3 years? 67.3% said yes and 28.3% said no. C. 4 to 6 years? 93% said yes and 2.2% said no. D. 7 and older? 95.1% said yes and 0% said no. Question 8: Behavioral problems are a sign that your child’s vision may be impaired: (Circle Agree or Disagree) 68.1% of parents agreed and 26.1% disagreed. Question 9: Have you ever heard of the InfantSEE program where participating optometrists provide free eye exams for children under 1 year old? 7.1% of parents said yes and 90.3% said no. Question 10: The American Optometric Association recommends an eye exam by an Eye Doctor at 6 months, 3 years, 5 years and throughout school. Have you ever heard or seen these recommendations? 13.7% of parents said yes and 84.6% said no. Question 11: The state of Kentucky requires a mandatory full eye exam by an optometrist or ophthalmologist before the child enters school. Do you believe that this is a good requirement? 93% of parents said yes and 4.9% said no. Question 12: Did you know that eye screenings with an eye chart miss up to 1 out of 3 eye problems, and that these problems can greatly affect a child’s ability to learn and do well in school? 25.7% of parents said yes and 71.2% said no. Discussion Over two-thirds of the parents did not know that visual acuity screening could miss significant numbers of vision problems (Question 12). Over a third of the parents thought that it would be appropriate to wait until five years of age or later for their children’s first vision exams if there didn’t appear to be any problems (Question 6). This could result in some apparently asymptomatic conditions such as amblyopia being missed. However, it is interesting to note that over 90% felt that it would be good to require children to have a full eye exam before they enter school. The results of this study suggest that parental knowledge of pediatric vision care could be improved in several areas. In addition to educating parents, optometrists could perhaps also work more closely with primary care physicians and pediatricians to encourage early eye and vision examinations. Areas in which optometrists could strive to educate parents are as follows: ● That an eye exam can be performed on children less than one year of age. ● That early vision care is as important as early dental care. ● Existence of the Infant SEE program ● That for asymptomatic, risk-free children, the American Optometric Association recommends eye exams at 6 months and at three years, and then before first grade and every two years thereafter. 3 ● That vision screenings do not substitute for a comprehensive eye and vision examination. Page 13... Vol. 15, Nos. 1/2 ... 2012 ... Indiana Journal of Optometry ......................................................
References 1. Scheiman MM. Amos CS, Ciner EB, Marsh-Tootle W, Moore BD, Rouse MW. Pediatric Eye and Vision Examination: Optometric Clinical Practice Guideline. St. Louis: American Optometric Association, 2002. 2. American Optometric Association. Third Annual American Optometric Association American Eye-Q Survey Executive Summary, 2008. www.aoa.org/documents/2008-Eye-Q-Executive- Summary.pdf. Accessed September 18, 21012. 3. American Optometric Association. Recommended Eye Examination Frequency for Pediatric Patients and Adults. http://www.aoa.org/x5502.xml?prt. Accessed September 19, 2012. Scott Caughell is a graduate of the Indiana University School of Optometry. He completed a residency in Pediatrics and Binocular Vision at IU. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry and practices in Warsaw, Indiana. Carl Harder is a 2011 graduate of the IU School of Optometry. .................................................... Indiana Journal of Optometry ... 2012 ... Vol. 15, Nos. 1/2... page 14
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Fall 2012 - Indiana University School of Optometry

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