Vision Problems in Children 

• Child may not be aware that they have a vision problem
• Caregivers may not know there is a problem, it isn't always recognizable
• How does a young child communicate that there is a problem

Amblyopia is the most common vision problem in preschool children. It is a decrease in vision in one or both eyes and arises without structural damage to the eye or optic nerve. When amblyopia is undetected or left untreated, it results in permanent vision loss that may adversely affect a person throughout life.  

The incidence of amblyopia in the United States is estimated to be 3-5% of the population. This means that as many as 9,000 Iowa children under the age of 4 years suffer from poor vision in one or both eyes. If amblyopia is detected and treated early in life, permanent visual loss can be prevented.

What happens if a possible problem is detected in my child's vision through an Iowa KidSight screening?

The results of your child's vision screening are evaluated at the University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences. You will receive the results within 4 weeks after a screening. If a possible vision problem is detected, you will be given a letter of referral for your child and a list of ophthalmologist and optometrists in your local area. Follow-up is also provided by Iowa KidSight.