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Prevent Blindness Texas:
Student Nurses Conduct Vision Screenings
| Prevent Blindness Texas, one of six Prevent Blindness state affiliates in the US, improves vision health across the state of Texas. PBT provides vision screening certification to 1,000 individuals annually. One of the affiliate's successful innovations is to provide vision screening training to nursing students across the state so these pre-service health professionals can help detect possible vision problems in preschool- and school-age children. |
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Prevent Blindness Texas collaborates with both nursing instructors and school districts to recruit nursing students to perform these certified vision screenings at K-12 schools. Not only does this unique approach benefit schools, children, and parents/families of children, but it also empowers future nurses, as well as current nurses, with an important skill set needed to deliver care to patients in clinics, hospitals, schools, and community settings.
According to Heather Patrick, CEO of Prevent Blindness Texas, there are over 1,100 school districts in Texas.
"This program builds capacity as well as sustainability for evidence-based vision screening in urban, suburban, and rural communities," says Patrick. "This initiative increases the number of healthcare workers who can provide vision screenings to children and reduce the barrier of knowledge among healthcare workers, parents, educators, and students alike.”
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Spring is here, the flowers are blooming, and the tree leaves are budding. Some children with undiagnosed and untreated vision disorders cannot clearly see the petals on the flowers or the beautiful budding leaves on trees. Conducting evidence-based vision screening and ensuring children referred from vision screening receive eye exams and treatment are important steps toward helping children see clearly, learn in school, play with their friends, and participate in activities. Thank you to the 105 individuals who have become certified children's vision screeners already in 2025. You rock! See below for information on how to become a certified vision screener. | | | | Children's Vision Screening Training Course | | |
In addition to Prevent Blindness Texas, if you work in one of the states listed below, you can enroll in a state-specific training class implemented by a Prevent Blindness Affiliate to receive certification. Click on the state link for information.
Georgia
Iowa
North Carolina
Ohio
Wisconsin
If you do not work in one of these states, you can receive information about our national Prevent Blindness Children's Vision Screening Certification Course.
| | Your Adult Eyes: Digital Eye Strain | | |
Prevent Blindness has declared March 2025 as Workplace Eye Wellness Month to provide employers and employees with important information to help keep their eyes safe and healthy at work. Prevent Blindness offers a variety of free resources, including workplace eye safety fact sheets, shareable social media graphics, and web page. Prevent Blindness also offers a Workplace Safety module as part of its Healthy Eyes Educational Series.
“Digital Eye Strain,” also referred to as “Computer Vision Syndrome,” is a group of symptoms experienced when using computers or other digital devices for extended periods, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Symptoms may include dry eyes and/or irritated eyes, blurred or double vision, tearing or watery eyes, and headache.
Data from the “2025 Workplace Vision Health Report” from VSP Vision Care shows nearly 6 out of 10 employees say digital eye strain reduces their productivity and effectiveness at work. To help avoid eye strain, Prevent Blindness recommends the following:
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To help avoid eye strain, Prevent Blindness recommends the following:
- Place your screen 20 to 26 inches away from your eyes, slightly below eye level.
- Use a chair you can adjust.
- Use a document holder placed next to your screen. It should be close enough so that you don’t have to swing your head back and forth or constantly change your eye focus.
- Change your lighting to lower glare and harsh reflections. Glare filters over your digital screens can also help.
- Choose screens that can tilt and swivel. A keyboard that you can adjust is also helpful.
- Computer glasses with yellow-tinted lenses that block blue light can help ease digital eye strain by increasing contrast.
- Anti-reflective lenses reduce glare and increase contrast while using digital devices.
| | | | Digital Screen Tips for Children | | |
We also need to work hard to ensure that children use digital screens safely. If children experience trouble sleeping, frequently rub their eyes, have “tired” eyes or headaches, or struggle with focusing, they may need to reduce their screen use. Prevent Blindness suggests the “Children’s Vision Digital Screen Tips" handout in English and Spanish:
- Play outdoors (in a safe area) 1 to 2 hours per day.
- Discourage the use of any screen held close to the eyes.
- Avoid screen glare and adjust screen brightness and contrast.
- Sit an arm's length away from a screen, with light behind the child and the screen slightly below eye level.
| | Partner Profile: American Association of Certified Orthoptists | | |
Vision plays a critical role in a child’s overall development. During the first few years of life, a child’s visual system undergoes significant growth and maturation. This development includes the ability to focus, track objects, perceive depth, and interpret visual information, which is essential for activities such as reading, writing, and social interaction. If one or both eyes cannot focus (they need glasses), the eyes do not look in the same direction (eye misalignment, known as strabismus), or because something is blocking the vision (e.g., cataract), then vision will not develop normally. If these issues are not detected in early childhood, lifelong vision can be negatively impacted. This condition is called amblyopia.
An orthoptist is an advanced practice provider in an ophthalmology office, trained in the assessment and non-surgical treatment of disorders related to visual development, eye movements, and binocular vision. Orthoptists perform specialized tests and can prescribe treatments such as eye exercises, prism lenses, or occlusion therapy (patching) to improve visual function. Orthoptists’ skill sets play a crucial role in detecting and qualifying these visual anomalies and helping all patients, particularly children, achieve optimal vision and eye coordination.
The American Association of Certified Orthoptists (AACO) is the professional organization for certified orthoptists practicing in the United States. For more information about orthoptists and what they do, please visit the AACO website.
| | Public Policy and Vision Health | | Find out more about advocacy at Prevent Blindness | | Medicaid in School Nursing | | |
Our partners at the National Association of School Nurses recently published a new web page, Medicaid in School Nursing. From the web page: “The relationship between Medicaid and school nurses is significant, as Medicaid plays a crucial role in funding school-based health services, including the work of school nurses.
Children between ages 5 years and 18 years comprise nearly one-third of all Medicaid enrollees (view state and school district data on Medicaid and CHIP enrollment). Medicaid is the fourth largest funding source for K-12 schools, supporting physical, mental, and behavioral health services for Medicaid-enrolled students with disabilities and the general education population. Medicaid provides vital healthcare access where children spend most of their day.” This resource explains three ways school nursing is connected to Medicaid.
| | Join us for the 2025 Focus on Eye Health Summit, a groundbreaking gathering of leaders in public health, eye care, and government sectors. This year’s theme, Perspectives in Vision, emphasizes the need for a collaborative, multidisciplinary approach to addressing eye health challenges in an evolving world. | | Support children's vision and eye health and make your gift today! | | | | |
