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Page: << Prev | 1 | 2 "It's very important in screening that we look at each eye individually, otherwise, we are going to miss some of those kids," Block said.
In another report in the same journal, the same research team noted a slight difference between visual acuity in black and white children among the same children tested in the first study.
"About 1 percent of preschool children who could have vision tested were found to have decreased vision," Friedman said. "Half of these could benefit from wearing glasses."
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The researchers found that the prevalence of decreased visual acuity was relatively low, affecting 1.2 percent of white children and 1.8 percent of black children. The difference between the two groups was not statistically significant, the researchers noted.
The most common causes of decreased visual acuity were nearsightedness, farsightedness and/or astigmatism. Only one child was legally blind.
Unidentified vision loss in preschool children is uncommon, Friedman said. "Increased efforts to identify children with vision loss at such a young age are probably not necessary," he said.
Block agrees vision problems among preschoolers are relatively rare, but parents should still have their children's eyes tested.
"The chances of vision problems in the preschool population are low, but they do exist," Block said. "The screenings are an important piece of the child's early evaluation and are usually done by a pediatrician as part of routine health care."
If a child appears to have a vision problem, he or she should be seen by a specialist, Block said. "Vision is an issue, and the best time to address it is early on, before it develops into true problems that cannot be corrected."
More information
For more on eye tests for children, visit Prevent Blindness America.
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