AAO supports bill to fund children's vision care

Washington, DC-The American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) is joining other professional organizations to support the "Children's Access to Vision Care Act of 2005," a bill that would provide $75 million in state grants for eye exams and other treatment for uninsured children who fail vision screenings.

The bill, introduced by Rep. Vito Fossella (R-NY), would complement other state programs that identify vision problems in preschoolers and school-age children and pay for follow-up treatment for children who are uninsured or who have health plans that do not cover vision services.

"During this time of extreme fiscal constraint, we urge Congress to act responsibly by targeting scarce health-care dollars to provide critical services to those patients who need them most," said Susan H. Day, MD, a pediatric ophthalmologist and AAO president.