2020!
Make this The Year of Vision!

Children's Vision Massachusetts is a coalition representing optometry, ophthalmology, nursing, pediatrics, public health, education, and families. Our mission is to create a systematic approach to vision care for all children. Our vision is that every child has the opportunity to develop and maintain their best possible vision.
THINK OF VISION Guide for Teachers of School-Aged Children is here! 
THINK OF VISION! A NEW VISION GUIDE FOR TEACHERS
Clear vision plays a fundamental role in a child's overall development, and their ability to learn and participate fully in their world. But signs of a vision problem in children can be subtle.
The new Guide alerts teachers of students at grade school and older, to signs and symptoms that, if repeatedly observed in the classroom, may indicate an untreated vision disorder, requiring evaluation by an eye doctor.
The Guide follows THINK OF VISION: Guide for Preschool Teachers released last year by CVMA.

Click here to download the Teacher Guides: for Preschool, and School-aged Children.
Please share these Guides with parents and educators! 
NEWS FROM THE SPECIAL COMMISSION ON CHILDHOOD VISION AND EYE HEALTH
The Special Commission on Childhood Vision and Eye Health has concluded its final meeting. The Commission was charged with studying, reviewing, and reporting on the Commonwealth's success at preventative measures of vision screening, treating all children for vision impairments and eye disease, and identifying populations that do not receive vision screenings, eye exams or necessary related treatments.
Final recommendations are expected to be forthcoming in the early months of 2020.
Watch this space for further updates!
CHILDHOOD VISION FACT SHEETS AVAILABLE IN MANY LANGUAGES
New childhood vision fact-sheets are available to download and print, in seven languages @ Prevent Blindness Ohio.
Find fact-sheets about Amblyopia and Strabismus in English and Spanish.
Click here to find more translations and fact sheets in Arabic, Somali, Spanish, Chinese, French, Russian and Ukranian.
A comprehensive eye exam from a pediatric eye doctor always includes a full ocular health assessment, including ocular pressure.

By detecting vision problems and treating them early, including those from glaucoma, we can help to avoid significant vision impairment. 
WHAT DOES 20/20 VISION MEAN?
According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology a person with 20/20 vision sees what the average person can normally see on an  eye chart  when they are standing 20 feet away.
An eye chart measures visual acuity, which is the clarity or sharpness of vision. The top number refers to your distance in feet from the chart. The bottom number indicates the distance at which a person with normal eyesight can read the same line.
If you have 20/30 vision, it means your vision is worse than average. When you are standing 20 feet from the chart, you can read letters that most people see when they are 30 feet away.
Having 20/20 vision does not necessarily mean you have perfect vision. Eye coordination, depth perception, focusing ability, tracking, peripheral awareness, and color vision, all also contribute to overall visual ability.
JANUARY IS NATIONAL GLAUCOMA AWARENESS MONTH
The year 2020 is an ideal reminder for us to make the resolution today, to save our vision for tomorrow. 
According to estimates from Prevent Blindness, 3.2 million Americans aged 40 and over, will have glaucoma in the year 2020.
Glaucoma, often referred to as the “ The Sneak Thief of Sight ” is a leading cause of vision loss that damages the optic nerve. Symptoms may not be noticeable at first, but glaucoma slowly diminishes peripheral (side) vision, making activities such as driving increasingly difficult.
Glaucoma affects more women than men.
Want to be a part of our effort? Join our Facebook Children's Vision MA Advocacy Group
To support the work of Children's Vision Massachusetts, please consider making a DONATION