The Association for Pediatric Vision (APV) has initiated a new vision screening curriculum to educate eye care practitioners (ECPs) on how to become a vision screener, with a specific focus on screening patients ages 0 to 5 years of age.
Refresh me on APV
A program of Lions World Vision Institute—a Tampa, Florida-based, global nonprofit for sight restoration (from corneal blindness and low vision), research, and outreach. APV is a community and professional membership-based program with the goal to bring awareness of vision development issues in pediatric patients across the United States.
The program is funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) under the Maternal & Child Health Bureau.
How is it working toward this goal?
Quite simply, by working to strengthen the country’s existing vision screening programs and serving as an “expert resource for pediatric vision health.”
Now talk about the training program.
The membership-based program is funded via a federal grant and designed as a national certification program for both individual and organizational practices to conduct vision screening.
Set up as five modules, the training program is built to walk participants through vision background knowledge and screening essentials to prepare them for providing the most accurate and up-to-date screening possible, according to APV.
Who can sign up?
According to APV, eye care professionals (ECPs and other healthcare providers [HCPs] are eligible to register and become certified.
However, the training courses themselves are available for any interested community member, including:
- Parents
- Nurses
- Caregivers
What’s the cost?
Each training module is free.
For ECPs and HCPs interested in becoming a certified vision screening, the cost is $99.
Where can I register for the free training?
Click here.
And if I want to become certified?
Click here to enroll in the training modules and become certified.
To note, once enrolled, a participant has 120 days to complete all module requirements.
Lastly … what’s the significance?
According to APV Program Director Melissa Z. Petro, OD, MPH, early vision screenings are key to identifying potential challenges in sight skills by detecting visual issues that may impair development and extend to negatively impact social and emotional well-being.
“A pediatric optometrist or ophthalmologist can perform an eye exam,” Petro stated, “however, early screening by community professionals such as teachers, nurses, and even parents can help with early detection of vision challenges such as amblyopia, strabismus, and refractive errors that may cause visual development delays and affect a child's quality of life."