Ophthalmology Times: New Children's Vision Health Map from Prevent Blindness

Prevent Blindness Launches Children's Vision Health Map

Prevent Blindness has debuted its Prevent Blindness Children's Vision Health Map, an online interactive tool designed to display geographic variations in common children’s vision problems, including visual impairment and blindness.

Data provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Vision and Eye Health Surveillance System and NORC at the University of Chicago reveals a staggering statistic: more than 600,000 children in the US experience uncorrectable visual acuity loss, including over 45,500 who are blind.

Identifying Eye Health Needs

• Key Quote: “The new data from the Prevent Blindness Children's Vision Health Map allows us to effectively identify and address the various eye health needs,” said Donna Fishman, National Center director.
• The map serves various stakeholders, including public health professionals and community groups, enabling them to address children's vision health conditions and outcomes.

The tool allows users to select different visual health indicators and explore correlations with community characteristics.

Supporting Public Health Initiatives

1. Statistics: One out of 122 children in the US suffers from uncorrectable vision loss.
2. Girls face a 25% higher rate of vision loss compared to boys.
3. Non-Hispanic Black children exhibit the highest rates of blindness.

Prevent Blindness further highlights the importance of the Early Detection of Vision Impairments for Children (EDVI) Act, which aims to enhance resources for eye health among children.

Availability and Next Steps

The Prevent Blindness Children's Vision Health Map and accompanying report will be presented during the upcoming Prevent Blindness World Sight Day Congressional Briefing.