Study Shows Positive Impact of Kentucky’s Mandatory Preschool Eye Exams

Mandatory preschool eye examination and treatment in Kentucky has had a positive impact on early academic performance, particularly in school districts in which residents are of a lower socioeconomic status, according to research presented by Anthony J. Bisotti, BA, at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Optometry.

For the full report follow this link to the January issue of Optometry Times where the article appears on page 1 and continues on page 31.

Bisotti, who was an intern at Bennett & Bloom Eye Centers and who recently graduated from the Indiana University School of Optometry, recently conducted the study with a colleague. The research found that since 2000, “when a law was passed in Kentucky requiring preschool examination and treatment, that compared children unaffected by the mandatory preschool screening law, children receiving early vision care performed significantly better on standardized performance testing,” Bisotti said.

“Furthermore, our findings suggest that providing vision examination and treatment to children in lower socio-economic groups helps above and beyond the additional attention they receive through state- and federal-mandated efforts involving increased teacher education and resources for reading,” he added.

Although 39 states require some preschool vision screening, Kentucky is one of only three states whose law requires a full eye examination with treatment and follow-up care for any child who fails the test.

Bisotti collaborated in this research with fellow fourth-year student, Joseph Bowling, BS, under the direction of Richard E. Meetz, OD, MS. Bisotti explained that he and Bowling have a particular stake in the issue because they are Kentucky residents and plan to return to their home state to practice optometry. In the study, data from the Kentucky Department of Education’s Core Content Test was used as the academic performance endpoint and the total academic index for children in the fourth grade. The prelaw cohort, representing children not affected by the vision screening law, was comprised of children who took the Core Content Test during the years 2001 to 2003.

In the statewide analysis, the mean scores for both reading and total academic index were significantly better for the postlaw cohort compared to the prelaw cohort. In further analysis with the data stratified on a year-by-year basis and the districts grouped by socioeconomic status, socioeconomic status had a statistically significant effect on test results in each year of the prelaw cohort. No effect was seen for any of the postlaw cohort years with regard to reading performance.

To find out how parents can help their children “save sight,” Prevent Blindness America has launched a campaign called Starpupils which includes free sight-saving information for parents about their children’s eyes. Visit the web site at www.starpupils.org/pba/. Another great site is infantsee.org that provides information on all stages of childhood eye care.