New technology will soon be used for vision testing of young children in Quinte area schools.
The provincial government’s new Public Health Standards require vision screening in Ontario schools, which has not been done for years.
Acting Medical Officer of Health Dr. Ian Gemmell says, “New techniques now available are going to be helping kids to identify early-on visual problems.”
Following Wednesday’s Board of Health meeting, he said ophthalmologists will provide provincial public health officials with information on new technology.
Gemmell says it’s important to test children early “since wiring in the brain gets established and it’s hard to change that.” He pointed to what’s generally known as “lazy eye” as an example.
Gemmell expects information about the program will go out to parents this year, with testing possibly beginning the following year.
