Children with poor vision face a significant disadvantage in school compared to their classmates. Good vision is vital for their development and learning.
Preschoolers depend on their vision to learn tasks that will prepare them for school. School-aged children depend on their vision for as much as 80 percent of learning.* When their vision isn't functioning properly, education, personal development and participation in sports can suffer.
During these physical growth years if a child is developing myopia, or nearsightedness, he or she might experience a rapid change in prescription and resulting visual acuity. If a child has crossed eyes or a lazy eye, treatment needs to begin at the earliest stage possible to ensure the child has the visual stimulus needed to develop and succeed.
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Most vision benefit plans include children and cover one eye exam and one pair of corrective lenses every 12 months. But some children might require more frequent eye exams to monitor vision conditions or need new prescriptions and lenses to correct vision impairments during these growth years.
For these children, a visit to an eye care professional once a year isn't enough. For that reason, in 2011 EyeMed Vision Care became the first managed vision care company to offer an expanded children's vision benefit called EyeMed KidsEyes, which covers a second eye exam and corrective lenses to children 18 years of age and younger based on need.
The benefit includes the following:
- Second eye exam within 12 months for children who aren't seeing as well as they should
- Additional pair of prescription lenses should their eye care professional determine a need exists
- Funded polycarbonate lenses for greater impact and scratch resistance and UV protection
- Funded contact lens fit and follow-up exam (professional service fee may apply depending on the member's vision plan)
- Funded Transitions® lenses (with EyeMed Insight Network plan)
Why Focus on Children's Vision?
EyeMed developed the KidsEyes program to elevate children's vision needs because there is strong evidence that suggests children are an underserved demographic with regard to eye care.
Studies indicate 25 percent of school-aged children are affected by vision problems. Some 80 percent of children diagnosed with learning disabilities have vision problems that typically are undiagnosed; and two-thirds of children under age six years have never received an eye exam.
Undetected vision problems can lead to difficulty reading, an inability to see the board in the front of the class, eyestrain, and headaches, which can all have an impact on a child's ability to focus and stay focused. This can lead to poor academic performance, low self-esteem, and negative behavior.
EyeMed believes in many situations an annual eye exam is adequate for most children, but at certain times in a child's development they might need more than one eye exam per year to make sure their eyes are in good health and their prescription is current.
For more information on the KidsEyes program, please visit WhyEyeMed.com, or call 800-521-3605.
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