Prevent Blindness (PB) has released its first-ever digital, interactive tool targeting geographic variations of common pediatric vision problems, visual impairment, and blindness in the United States: the Prevent Blindness Children’s Vision Health Map.
First: Talk about pediatric vision in the U.S.
A comprehensive report accompanying this health map has noted the following statistics:
- Vision loss affects 25% more girls than boys
- Highest rates of vision loss and blindness are seen in non-Hispanic Black children
- 1 out of every 88 have vision loss
- 1 out of every 1,000 are permanently blind
- Uncorrectable vision impacts 1 in every 122 U.S. children
- This translates to:
- 1 in every 137 children (aged 0-11)
- 1 in every 102 children (aged 12-17)
- This translates to:
Based on this map, which states have the highest prevalence of visual acuity?
The top five states (including the District of Columbia [DC]) include:
- Arkansas
- DC
- Mississippi
- Nevada
- West Virginia
Let’s move on to this map.
The interactive tool provides county- and state-level characteristics that may make a difference in children’s vision and eye health conditions.
On the left side of the map, users have the option to select from a list of viewing options and narrow down their choices via subtopic filters, including:
- Based on geography (states vs counties)
- States with vision screening legislation
- Subtopics
- Outcomes
- Vision outcomes
- Visual loss and blindness
- Diagnosed eye disorders
- Vision correction
- Age group
- Race/ethnicity
- Gender
- Education
- Health and disability
- Socioeconomic
- Eyecare providers per capita
- Outcomes
And its targeted users?
Members of the public; healthcare professionals (HCPs); public health professionals; program partners; and government representatives.
- How it can be utilized: To support policy and practice development geared toward improving systems for early detection and VA loss treatment for children, according to PB.
So where does this data come from?
A few areas, most notably the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) Vision and Eye Health Surveillance System (VEHSS) as well as sources collected and reported by the National Opinion Research Center (NORC)—a nonprofit, independent 501(c)3 research organization—at the University of Chicago.
Fact: The CDC’s Vision Health Initiative and NORC partnered to develop the national VEHSS, which uses sources of new and existing data to enable HCPs, researchers, policy makers, and patients a better understanding of U.S.-based vision loss, eye disorders, and eye care services.
Nice! And how can it impact legislative developments?
PB noted that vision health advocates can use this updated data to further advance the Early Detection of Vision Impairments for Children (EDVI) Act, which was introduced into the House of Representatives in May 2024.
Give me some background on this.
With no national-level vision and eye health program currently established specifically for children, members of the Congressional Vision Caucus (CVC)—a bipartisan coalition of congressional members that seek to strengthen and advance national policy on vision-related issues and disabilities—sought to change that.
How: Via the EDVI Act, which intends to ensure that pediatric patients with potential vision problems are identified and connected to receive appropriate eye care within their state/local communities.
How, exactly?
Ideally, by supporting and providing schools, early childhood professionals, HCPs, PHPs, and families with the following resources:
- Updated/evidence-based vision screening methods
- Improved eye care referrals
- Advanced follow-up protocols to ensure early diagnosis and treatment
Even further: The proposed act would amend the Public Health Service Act to “improve children’s vision and eye health through grants to states, territories, and tribal organizations and the provision of technical assistance.”
- See the five key actions these grants would be used for.
And its overarching significance?
By developing the first-ever federal vision and eye health program for children, U.S. Representative Gus Bilirakis (FL-12), co-chair of the CVC, previously noted that the bill would guarantee that all pediatric patients receive screening and care needed at the appropriate age.
Plus: The American Optometric Association (AOA) also told Glance that, with the current disparity in access to children’s vision care, the new funding provided by the EVDI Act would "empower states and communities to address this challenge with innovative solutions and resources."
Click here to learn about how to support this legislation.