CHICAGO—Prevent Blindness has declared August as Children’s Eye Health and Safety Awareness Month in an effort to educate the public on the importance of healthy vision for kids. The organization is asking all parents and caregivers to set their children on a path to success in the classroom by taking them for a certified vision screening or eye exam.

More than one in 20 preschool-age children and one in four school-age children have a vision disorder, the organization stated. The National Center for Children’s Vision and Eye Health at Prevent Blindness (NCCVEH) issued a comprehensive report, “Children’s Vision and Eye Health: A Snapshot of Current National Issues”, detailing the link between healthy vision and the impact it may have on learning.

“The good news is that many vision problems in children can be treated successfully if detected early,” said Hugh R. Parry, president and CEO of Prevent Blindness. “Prevent Blindness provides free information on a variety of vision health topics for kids, and partners on many fantastic programs that provide free exams and glasses for those who qualify. We encourage the public to contact us for more details on ways to keep children’s eyes healthy.”

Children generally do not complain about problems with their vision, Prevent Blindness stated. These problems may range from common refractive errors, such as nearsightedness (myopia) and farsightedness (hyperopia), to serious eye conditions including amblyopia (lazy eye), strabismus (crossed eyes) and astigmatism.

In commemoration of Children’s Eye Health and Safety Awareness Month, Prevent Blindness recommends a continuum of eyecare for children to include both vision screening and comprehensive eye exams. Any child who experiences vision problems or shows symptoms of eye trouble should receive a comprehensive eye examination by an optometrist or ophthalmologist.

To support children’s vision programs, OCuSOFT Inc., a privately-held eye and skin care company dedicated to innovation in eyelid hygiene and ocular health, has agreed to donate 10 percent of all its August online sales to Prevent Blindness.

For more information on children’s eye health and safety, the NCCVEH, or financial assistance programs, please call Prevent Blindness at (800) 331-2020 or visit preventblindness.org.