Early Screening is Critical

The first few years of a child’s life are critical in the development of normal vision.  A child with vision problems often does not realize that the way they see the world is not the way everyone else sees it.  Vision abnormalities in a child’s eyes may occur even when the eye appears to look normal. 

It is estimated that 3-4% of children may have vision loss from undetected amblyopia or what is commonly referred to as “lazy eye”. Amblyopia is decreased vision in a child that results when one or both eyes send a blurry image to the brain. 

The brain does not learn to see clearly. If problems are not detected early, a child’s vision may deteriorate to the point of irreversible blindness.  Research indicates that 70-80% of what a child learns is visually acquired and there is evidence to suggest that children with undetected vision disorders are more likely to fail in school. 

Screening Locations

Photo Screening is conducted at neighborhood childcare centers because they have both the facilities as well as the proximity to a group of children.  If parents or a childcare center is interested is scheduling a photoscreening, please contact your local Lions Club or Lion Janice Chapman, Program Coordinator for Operation KidSight.

The Lions, using funds they have raised in your community pay the cost of the photoscreening in full.  Your support of Lions projects pays for this program as well as many other services that the Indiana Lions Clubs are involved in.

Photoscreening FAQs

What is Photoscreening?

Operation KidSight screeners use the Pediavision S0-8 screening system.  The volunteer takes a digital “camera” measurement of the child’s eyes from a comfortable distance of 3-4 feet.  Pass/fail criteria for the screening system are set using guidelines established by the American Association of Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus as modified by Dr. Daniel Neely MD, a pediatric ophthalmologist at the Indiana University School of Medicine, Riley Hospital for Children and the Midwest Eye Institute.  Invisible, infrared light is projected through the pupils onto the retina.  Depending on the refractive error or “prescription” of the eye, the reflected light forms a specific brightness pattern within the pupil which the software analyzes to detect astigmatism, myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness) and anisometropia (imbalance between the two eyes).  It also performs a gaze analysis to help detect strabismus (eye misalignment). Perhaps the most amazing thing is that all this information can be acquired and accessed in as little as five seconds.

What are the age limits or other qualifications for this screening?

The child must be old enough to fixate (to look at a flashing light on the camera). This is typically possible after one year of age.  The screening is targeted at children who are pre-verbal and who may not be able to describe to parents, teachers or doctors the fact that they do not have perfect vision.  There are other tests, such as reading an eye chart, that are generally better for children over 5 years of age.  Remember that the eyes are fully developed by age 6 and any screening and testing problems found after age 6 maybe discovered too late to be corrected as a medical condition.

The photoscreener does not detect neurological disorders.  Therefore, we do not screen developmentally delayed or challenged children.  Also, children who are under 5 and are wearing glasses or are already under the care of an eye doctor and do not need vision screening.

What does the screening cost to the parents or to the day care center operator?

The screening is provided as a service project at no charge to the parents, child, or the day care operator.  The funds are provided through services and projects of The Indiana Lions Eye & Tissue Transplant Bank, the Lions Clubs of Indiana, and generous contributions from both individual and corporate donors.

What happens if a child “fails” the screening?

All parents will receive notification of the results of their child’s screening.  Those that “fail” or are “referred” are advised that the screening indicates that their child may have a vision disorder and the parent is strongly advised to make an appointment with an optometrist or ophthalmologist.    

Financial Contributions

This program is supported by ILETTB, using funds they have raised in your community to pay the cost of the photoscreening in full.  Your support helps contribute to this program as well.

Individuals and corporations may contribute to this program directly.  These contributions will fund Operation KidSight directly through the maintenance of equipment and cameras, purchasing new equipment, transportation and public education.

Operation KidSight is a program of the Indiana Lions Eye Bank Inc., d/b/a Indiana Lions Eye & Tissue Transplant Bank, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization and donations may be tax deductible according to the United States Internal Revenue Service Regulations.

Indiana Lions Eye Bank & Tissue Transplant Bank
727 E. 86th St.
Indianapolis IN 46240

Please write "Operation KidSight" in the memo line of the check.

Operation KidSight
Lion Janice Chapman
Executive Director
727 E. 86th St.
Indianapolis IN 46240
(317) 578-0491
kidsight@sbcglobal.net
kidsight@ilettb.org

PDF/Word Forms

If you would like to participate in an Operation KidSight event we have materials available to help you market and organize. Check for the documents you need and simply print them out to help make your Operation KidSight event a success!
(Documents are in PDF format)

1. Consent form
2. Spanish Consent form
3. Free Vision Screening Poster
4. Cover Sheet
5. News Media Release form
6. A Newsletter Article
7. Tri-Fold Brochure
8. Evaluation Form

Additional Information:

Since 2003, over 34,000 Indiana preschoolers have been screened for vision loss. More than 60% of children in the United States have not been examined by an optometrist or ophthalmologist by the age of 6.