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According to statistics, up to seven per cent of pre-school children suffer from a sight impediment, amblyopia (lazy eye) or strabismus (crossed eye). A study carried out in the USA revealed, for example, that eye defects are the fourth most common handicap in general and the most common handicap in childhood. Many sight impediments are discovered too late when the handicap cannot be significantly changed.
 
All Pardubice pre-school children will undergo a diagnostic test to help detect some sight impediments in time. A unique project of the Centre for Early Care, funded by the Pardubice town council, is beginning in September.

“The town council has released 390,000 CZK for this project to be used for, among other things, purchasing equipment to help with screening, for instance, for amblyopia or strabismus. I am convinced that this investment into health, especially the health of children, is a good investment. Early detection of defects gives the child hope for a correct and, above all, effective treatment and also for healthy mental and psychological development that can be negatively influenced by a hidden sight impediment,” said vice-mayor Štěpánka Fraňková.

According to statistics, up to seven per cent of pre-school children suffer from a sight impediment, amblyopia (lazy eye) or strabismus (crossed eye). A study carried out in the USA revealed, for example, that eye defects are the fourth most common handicap in general and the most common handicap in childhood. Many sight impediments are discovered too late when the handicap cannot be significantly changed.

Early detection of a sight impediment can prevent not only irreversible damage to sight but also negative effects on the child’s personality.

“’Pre-school age’ is a suitable period when possible, ideally through follow-up care, to treat or even completely remove sight impediments,” said Dagmar Fidlerová, the project coordinator.

This is why trained workers will visit Pardubice kindergartens, where the highest concentration of pre-school children is found, with the Plusoptix SO8 appliance and carry out sight screening with the approval of parents. All children undergoing the examination will receive a stamp in their vaccination record of a certain colour. A green stamp will inform a paediatrician that the child’s sight is normal. On the other hand, a red stamp and additional information will be a signal for further examination by a doctor.

The project does not omit children who do not attend kindergarten or will not be present at the time of the screening. “Under the screening project in our town, parents can make an appointment for these preschool children to receive a preventive sight examination in the Early Care Centre where more screening days are reserved for this purpose. Even younger children may be signed up for this examination by their parents if they have a family pre-disposition for amblyopia, strabismus or other sight impediment.”
 

Source: www.klinikazdravi.cz