AOA survey indicates adults may underestimate how frequently children have vision problems.

The Arizona Daily Star (8/23, Bodfield) reported, “A recent American Optometric Association survey of 1,001 respondents found that adults far underestimate how frequently children have vision problems, with nearly 90 percent unaware that a quarter of children have some sight issues.” According to the AOA, “studies indicate that as many as 60 percent of children identified as ‘problem learners’ actually have undetected vision problems that may be stunting their academic development.” Optometrist Cheryl Schmitt, OD, explained that “children with undiagnosed vision problems often have problems following what the rest of the class is doing or get to a point that they just don’t want to read at all. In extreme cases, it can be mistaken for a learning disability, she said.” A side bar listed a number of “warning signs” indicating that “a child may have undetected vision problems,” and included resources that “help needy students afford vision assistance.”