Doctors of Optometry, Parents, Educators and Legislators Applaud New Illinois Law Requiring Comprehensive Eye Exams for Children Start...( Parents encouraged to take childre...),Health

Parents encouraged to take children early for eye exams: Waiting could

delay necessary treatment and create longer wait times

SPRINGFIELD, Ill., May 21 /PRNewswire/ -- Parents, teachers and doctors of optometry joined Sen. Deanna Demuzio (D-Carlinville) and Rep. Jil Tracy (R-Quincy) today at a news conference in Springfield to celebrate a new state law requiring eye exams for children enrolling for the first time in Illinois schools and encourage all parents to have their children's eyes examined early to reduce the instances of eye and vision problems going undiagnosed and untreated in children.

"This law is expected to help thousands of children see better and perform better in school," said bill sponsor Sen. Deanna Demuzio. "Ensuring that children start the school year with healthy vision and that they are ready to learn will not only help them go far, but will help ensure success for the state of Illinois. I am proud to see this legislation enacted."

According to the Illinois Optometric Association, the new state law requires comprehensive eye exams for children entering kindergarten or enrolling for the first time in public, private, or parochial elementary schools in Illinois. Since comprehensive eye exams are the best way to diagnose eye and vision problems in children early, before they interfere with a child's ability to learn, doctors of optometry agree that the new law is a crucial step in ensuring that Illinois students perform to the best of their ability in the classroom.

At the news conference, optometrists encouraged parents to arrange for a comprehensive eye exam early to beat the traditional summer rush and to help ensure that their child meets the necessary requirements in time for the beginning of the school year. Optometrists at the event also emphasized that parents need to understand that a comprehensive eye exam is more than a mere vision screening that relies, for example, simply on a standard e
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