A study released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that millions of children do not receive the vision evaluations recom- mended by top medical organizations, placing them at greater risk for permanent vision loss, as well as physical and emotional difficulties. The study, published as the lead article in the May 6th edition of CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, finds that only one in three children received a vision screening or eye exam before entering kindergarten. “What’s startling is that despite our medical guidelines, only a small number of children are actually receiving the preventative, primary care they need to ensure healthy vision,” said ophthalmologist Elaine G. Hathaway, MD. The report states that approximately 1.8 million children under the age of 18 (2.5 percent) are blind or have some form of visual impairment. According to Hathaway, many cases of visual impairment could be eliminated simply through more timely diagnosis and treatment. Hathaway stated, “If we’re serious about preventing vision loss, we need to make sure that children receive the necessary preventative vision care.” To learn more about safeguarding your child’s vision health, please visit www.checkyearly.com. THE I CARE NEWSLETTER SETTING OUR SIGHT ON VISION HEALTH Eye strain from computer use is the number one com- plaint of office workers and can cause blurry vision, sore and tired eyes, neck pain, and eventually lead to more serious eye conditions such as nearsightedness. Here are some tips from the Vision Council of America to help prevent computer eye strain: • Keep your distance from your monitor. Sitting any closer than 20 inches from your monitor puts you at risk for eye strain. The recom- mended distance between the monitor and your eyes is 24 to 28 inches. • Take frequent breaks and blink more often while working at the computer to refocus your eyes. • Focus on good posture while using the computer to help prevent shoulder, neck and back pain. Keep your feet flat on the floor and be sure you can easily reach the keyboard. • Reduce glare by utilizing proper lighting. Eliminating outside light and using lower intensity bulbs can help to relieve eye strain. In addition to following these tips, an eye doctor can recommend specialized computer eyewear to combat and prevent any computer- related eye conditions. Remember, the best way to ensure healthy vision for you and your family is through regular, comprehensive eye exams. Summer 2006 I work. Therefore Eye Strain. Few Children Receive Vision Care The I Care Newsletter is published quarterly by the Vision Council of America — a leading organization in the ophthalmic industry representing a wide base of global ophthalmic manufacturers and distributors. VCA and its members are visionaries for the industry, leading the growth and enhancement of the vision industry through national advocacy campaigns such as Check Yearly. See Clearly., designed to educate consumers everywhere on the importance of routine eye care. This message is brought to you by: EYE OPENER NEARLY 88 PERCENT OF ALL COMPUTER USERS WILL DEVELOP EYE PROBLEMS THAT ARE EXPERIENCED DURING AND RELATED TO COMPUTER USE.

THE I CARE NEWSLETTER · an eye doctor can recommend specialized computer eyewear to combat and prevent any computer-related eye conditions. Remember, the best way to ensure healthy

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The study, publishedas the lead article inthe May 6th edition ofCDC’s Morbidity and

Mortality Weekly Report, finds that only one in three childrenreceived a vision screening or eye exam before enteringkindergarten.

“What’s startling is that despite our medical guidelines,only a small number of children are actually receiving thepreventative, primary care they need to ensure healthyvision,” said ophthalmologist Elaine G. Hathaway, MD.

The report states that approximately 1.8 million childrenunder the age of 18 (2.5 percent) are blind or have someform of visual impairment. According to Hathaway, manycases of visual impairment could be eliminated simply throughmore timely diagnosis and treatment.

Hathaway stated, “If we’re serious about preventing visionloss, we need to make sure that children receive the necessarypreventative vision care.”

To learn more about safeguarding your child’s visionhealth, please visit www.checkyearly.com.

THE I CARE NEWSLETTERSETTING OUR SIGHT ON VISION HEALTH

Eye strain fromcomputer use is thenumber one com-plaint of officeworkers and cancause blurry vision,sore and tiredeyes, neck pain,and eventuallylead to moreserious eye conditions such as nearsightedness.

Here are some tips from the Vision Council of Americato help prevent computer eye strain:• Keep your distance from your monitor. Sitting any closer than20 inches from your monitor puts you at risk for eye strain. The recom-mended distance between the monitor and your eyes is 24 to 28 inches.• Take frequent breaks and blink more often while working atthe computer to refocus your eyes.• Focus on good posture while using the computer to help prevent

shoulder, neck and back pain. Keepyour feet flat on the floor and be sureyou can easily reach the keyboard.• Reduce glare by utilizing properlighting. Eliminating outside light andusing lower intensity bulbs can help torelieve eye strain.

In addition to following these tips,an eye doctor can recommendspecialized computer eyewear tocombat and prevent any computer-related eye conditions. Remember, thebest way to ensure healthy vision foryou and your family is through regular,comprehensive eye exams.

Summer 2006

I work. Therefore Eye Strain.Few Children ReceiveVision Care

The I Care Newsletter is published quarterly by the Vision Council of America — a leading organization in the ophthalmic industry representing a wide base of globalophthalmic manufacturers and distributors. VCA and its members are visionaries for the industry, leading the growth and enhancement of the vision industry throughnational advocacy campaigns such as Check Yearly. See Clearly., designed to educate consumers everywhere on the importance of routine eye care.

This message is brought to you by:

EYE OPENERNEARLY

88 PERCENT OF

ALL COMPUTER USERS

WILL DEVELOP

EYE PROBLEMS THAT

ARE EXPERIENCED

DURING AND RELATED

TO COMPUTER USE.