The NC Kindergarten Health Assessment Form has been updated. Amoung the changes that have been completed, providers will notice changes in the documentation of vision screening. There is now a more accurate way to document what is expected in a vision screening according to the policy statement from the ophthalmologists and pediatricians which includes documentation and use of stereopsis.

The Early Childhood Vision Care Commission has set vision screening guidelines as required by North Carolina General Statute 130A-440.1 for children entering kindergarten in public schools. These guidelines have three components:

1. An assessment by the screener of signs and symptoms of eye disease.
2. A measurement of the distance visual acuity of each eye.
3. A measurement of stereopsis.
   Vision screening completed as part of the kindergarten health assessment should be recorded on the KHA form provided by the Division of Public Health. KHA forms may be downloaded from the N.C. Pediatric Society website (http://www.ncpeds.org/) or the N.C. Academy of Family Physicians website (http://www.ncafp.com/home/). If a child cannot pass the vision screening and needs referral to an eye care provider, he/she may be eligible for services under the ECVC Program. Eligible children are those who are not covered by Prevent Blindness N.C. services, have no vision care insurance coverage through Medicaid or other insurances and whose family income is at or below 250% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. Applications are currently being accepted by the ECVC Program and can be downloaded from the ECVC website (http://www.ncpublichealth.com/vision). If eligible, the ECVC Program will cover the cost of a comprehensive eye examination by an eye care provider and will pay for glasses if prescribed.

Also available at the ECVC website are the vision screening guidelines and a vision screening training module for medical providers’ staff. Questions may be addressed to the School Health Unit at the Division of Public Health, Children & Youth Branch (919 707-5661 or School.Health.Unit@ncmail.net)

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• 2008-09 Kindergarten Health Assessment Form

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Students entering kindergarten with KHA's completed prior to the availability of these new forms should be allowed to enroll in school in the fall of 2008, using the 2007 KHA form.

Please destroy (recycle) the 2007 forms that you may have in your office, and begin using the 2008 physical exam form. The new KHA requires vision screening, including stereopsis. More information about the vision screening requirement can be found at www.ncpublichealth.com Click on the ECVC (Early Childhood Vision Commission) logo. There is a self-training module that may be used by office staff who may be administering the screening.

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