August is Children’s Vision Month. The Minnesota Optometric Association (http://minnesota NULL.aoa NULL.org/) (MOA) has named August 1, 2012, as PreK Eye Exam Day, a statewide effort that is part of its Good Sight for Kindergarten campaign.  As part of this initiative Uptown Eye Care, a participating MOA member, offered one-time, no-cost eye exams to 5 -year olds entering kindergarten on August 1.

It’s hard to know where to begin talking about our free PreK Eye Exam Day.  It was not only a fun day with excited 5 year olds, but a great educational day for families.

I was able to explain to parents why children should have an eye exam and how their vision affects their performance in school.  While I had fun hearing about new backpacks and school shoes, the kids also learned about eyes and saw photos of the inside of their eyes.  My favorite part of the exam is when they ask me questions. I should start a page of the funny ones!  It was a very rewarding day for me to help a few children not only see better but to also give a few parents symptoms to watch for in the classroom.

Of the 12 children I saw only one had no concerns at all.  Five kids had a binocular vision concern that we will moniter but not treat at this time and three kids had a lazy eye.  The parents of two out of those three children with a lazy eye (or amblyopia) were not previously aware that their child had this condition.  Another two children had an eye turn and another I referred to a specialist for a medical condition which was also unknown to the parents.  It was a busy day!  I am already looking forward to continuing this program next year.   Thank you to my awesome staff and to the Minnesota Optometric Association for making it such a fabulous day!

Mary Gregory, OD

Uptown Eye Care
560 Cedar St
Monticello, MN 55362
763-271-2020

PreK Eye Exam Day

« »