Children succeed in schoolwork Early vision check-ups can help
By Sylvie Belmond belmond@theacorn.com

WENDY PIERRO/Acorn Newspapers I CAN SEE CLEARLY NOW- Leticia Cordova of Arroyo Vista Optometry in Moorpark covers Luke Forbes-Black's eye during a vision screening of preschoolers at the Moorpark Unified School District's Pre-School Program at the Early Childhood Center downtown on Wednesday.

Vision problems are not always easy to spot in young children because preschoolers don't know how to verbalize that they have trouble seeing.

"Just because a child doesn't complain about a vision problem, it doesn't mean that one doesn't necessarily exist," said Brian DeCuir, a local optometrist who conducted free vision screenings at the Early Childhood Center in downtown Moorpark this week.

"Children don't know what they are suppose to be able to see," he said.

This is an outreach activity to not only help the district with screenings but to encourage regular vision checks even in very young children, said Erin Koneval, one of three district nurses in the Moorpark Unified School District.

Although school children must be vaccinated and have physical and dental exams before they enter kindergarten, vision checks are not yet required, said the school nurse.

Both dental and vision care are often overlooked, even when parents have insurance, Koneval said.

Poor eyesight can lead to academic delays.

"The longer a vision problem goes undiagnosed or untreated the less likely a child will be able to see clearly," said DeCuir, who recently opened Arroyo Vista Optometry in Moorpark.

In addition to delaying academic progress, undetected vision problems can lead to headaches, eyestrain, fatigue and an avoidance of reading or writing, he said.

The school district is working to alleviate these concerns.

"Older children are screened, but sometimes parents fail to follow up when notes are sent because they don't realize how important this is and get busy with other things," Koneval said.

So Moorpark school nurses have been coordinating eye care for families that don't have insurance to ensure that elementary and middle school children get eyeglasses if they're needed.

However, it's better to catch vision problems earlier and avoid academic problems from the start, said Koneval, who encourages parents to schedule an optometrist appointment for preschoolers that will enter kindergarten this fall.