Genesee County Health Department

Better Life Through Better Health

Vision Screening Aids Early Learning

Approximately 18% of children under 18 years of age have vision problems which could cause them to fail basic vision screening. Yet because children have nothing to compare their vision to, they often don't know that they cannot see clearly. As a result, roughly 10,000 children are entering school each year with vision problems which can make school learning difficult. All children should have an eye exam before kindergarten. This is the best way to identify a problem.

In Michigan, more than 850,000 preschool and school-age children have their vision screened each year by local health department vision technicians. Technicians visit both public and non-public schools to screen children. All preschool and school-age children have access to free vision screening through the county health department. Approximately 5-10 percent of children screened are identified with possible vision problems. Parents of these children are advised to take their children to an eye doctor. The role of the vision screener is very important to successful learning. Approximately 80% of all learning in a child's first 12 years is through vision.

Through periodic screenings and by notifying parents of the need for a complete eye exam by an eye doctor, health and school personnel are helping thousands of children each year to see more clearly.

For more information about the vision program through the Genesee County Health Department, call (810) 257-3612.