In-school eye screening by optometrists free for preschoolers

TRecord Staff

his past Friday Jean-françois Roberge, Quebec’s Minister for Education and Higher Education, announced that the Provincial Government will be providing more than $15 million over three years to the Fondation des maladies de l’oeil to screen for visual difficulties in preschool children. The new funding, according to Roberge, is given with the goal of helping to identify difficulties that could hinder learning early on and eliminate them.

"Identifying and correcting visual difficulties is a tool for preventing learning difficulties,” Roberge said. “Through this investment, we are demonstrating our commitment to preventing problems that children may have and to promoting their success. Today, we are delivering on a relevant, but never delivered, promise from the previous government."

From now on, summary eye examinations by optometrists will be offered free of charge in schools to all kindergarten students in Quebec. After screening for eye problems, parents will be notified so that they can consult an optometrist at a clinic for a complete visual examination at no charge, and that steps will be taken to correct the problem, if any.

Outreach programs for parents of three to five year olds will also be developed by the Foundation to highlight the importance of an eye exam prior to entering kindergarten.

"The National Plan for Summary Eye Examination is undoubtedly a social project,” said Foundation Executive Director General Steve Lachance. “Every year for the past several years, nearly 90,000 children aged four and five have entered the school system. On their entrance, 72,000 of them have never had their eyes examined by an optometrist. When we consider that 80 per cent of learning takes place through vision, offering a basic eye exam in elementary schools is acting responsibly for the future of Quebec's children."

The financial assistance granted under the plan will be used to cover costs related to the organization of summary school eye exams and the development of awareness campaigns for a period of three consecutive years, from 2018-2019 to 2020- 2021.

The Fondation des maladies de l’oeil is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting vision health. For 13 years, it has developed an expertise in the organization of visual screenings in schools.

Basic eye examinations are covered by the Régie de l'assurance maladie du Québec for people under 18 years of age and for those aged 65 and over, once a year.

A watchdog committee will be established to guide the implementation of the project, in addition to ensuring the quality assurance provisions of the screening program, including the informed consent of parents. The Foundation will work closely with partners on the Watchdog Committee.