Strategy for children's vision

Alexandria, VA-Pediatric eye- and vision-care practitioners, working with advocacy organizations, educators, policy makers, and parents, will unveil a new national strategy to combat high rates of eye and vision problems in school-aged children April 12 at 2 p.m. at the National Press Club in Washington.

The press conference will be the culmination of a 2-day summit aimed at highlighting the important role that vision and eye health play in school readiness. Experts assembled by the American Optometric Association (AOA) include:

• Dori Carlson, OD, president-elect of the AOA and founding member of InfantSEE, a no-cost public health program developed to provide professional eye care for infants nationwide;

• Glen Steele, OD, professor and chief of pediatrics at Southern College of Optometry, Memphis, TN;

• Kirsten Thomsen, a certified physician assistant and clinical assistant professor in the University of New England Westbrook College physician assistant program;

• Norma Bowyer, OD, MPH, a member of the governing council of the American Public Health Association and its vision care section; and

• Robin Benoit, parent, advocate, and author of Jillian’s Story, which tells the tale of the difficulties her daughter faced as a result of preventable vision loss (www.jilliansstory.com).