HARRISBURG – The PA Senate Education Committee approved a bill sponsored by Sen. Chris Gebhard of Berks, Lancaster, & Lebanon Counties to strengthen the effectiveness of eye health exams in schools. Senate Bill 720 would require a comprehensive eye health exam performed by an ophthalmologist or optometrist before a child is admitted to school for the first time, in the hopes of catching vision problems early, or when a child receives an Individualized Education Program, to ensure unknown vision problems are not the cause of their learning challenges. Current school vision screenings, which are performed by a nurse, teacher or medical technician, are less comprehensive than a full eye examination and can miss serious vision problems. The bill now advances to the full Senate.
