To support Better Vision for Children directly click CLICK THE ABOVE LINK TO SHOP AND SUPPORT THIS CAUSE:      Description of Amblyopia and Eye Cancer: BVC who provide programs of mass screening of one- to six-year-old children for amblyopia (lazy eye) and retinoblastoma- (eye cancer)  with a digital photo screener that can be operated by non-medical personnel.  BVC Medical van will be at Music Festival and testing children.   Also, available will be Autism test (CHAT) information and FDA approved home test kits for AIDS.   Here are the facts: 1. Every state, county, city and school district can save eyesight, money and the lives of some pre-verbal children, with a quick eye test most jurisdictions know nothing about yet. 2. Retinoblastoma is one of the leading causes of infant death. In many cases the eye(s) are removed to prevent the spread of cancer and the child still dies. 3. The Better Vision for Children screenings are by world renowned amblyopia expert, Salvatore Stella, M.D. 4. Amblyopia, in its several types, is now the leading cause of permanent vision loss in the United States . 5. Amblyopia and retinoblastoma incapacitate or blind about 500,000 children each year and have already done the same to over 18 million adults. 6. Amblyopia is usually not reversible after age five, resulting in legal blindness at 20/200 or worse. 7. Amblyopia can affect both eyes, in one version that must be treated by age one (deprivation amblyopia). 8. Amblyopia and retinoblastoma was detected in over 30 percent of the children screened in three years (results of tests conducted by B.V.C. at preschools and Wal-Mart Vision Centers in low-income areas of San Diego County beginning in October 1995). 9. Amblyopia and retinoblastoma can be reliably detected only by pediatric ophthalmologists in lengthy testing which is not usually done (barring injury, how many times did your child visit a pediatric ophthalmologist before the age of five?), or with this portable, instantaneous, photo-refractive screening done exclusively by the Better Vision for Children Foundation's Project H.E.A.L. (Help Eliminate Amblyopia/Lazy eye). 10. Amblyopia and retinoblastoma are easily prevented or treated in most cases, if detected before age three. 11. Amblyopia has been virtually eliminated in Sweden ! 12. Amblyopia and retinoblastoma do not "go away" on their own. It must be treated.   Salvatore L. Stella, M.D. Director, B.V.C. Foundation Medical Advisory Committee Board of Supervisors, County of San Diego During the nearly 30 years I was engaged in the practice of Pediatric and Adolescent Ophthalmology, the saddest and most disappointing experience followed the discovery of an older child with amblyopia who failed to respond to treatment. Success in amblyopia is realized with greatest frequency in those youngsters in whom amblyopia is detected and treatment is instituted during the pre-verbal years. The vision screening techniques of the past which rely mainly on the subjective responses of the individual, do not lend themselves to the very young child. However, utilization of objective techniques made possible through improved technology now allows successful screening of the pre-verbal child. Through such techniques, timely detection and treatment has nearly eliminated amblyopia among children in Sweden. The impact of eliminating and/or significantly reducing the incidence of amblyopia will result in direct and indirect benefits to society. Based on the data provided by others, it is estimated that early detection cost savings per one thousand (1,000) children, would result in savings of $60,000 in the case of amblyopia, and an additional $35,000 in the case of strabismus. Sizable savings in indirect costs would be realized arising out of a significant smaller number of youngsters requiring special service programs and other special needs in school. Exact dollar cost savings realized are not immediately available, however, the consensus is that over time this figure would be significant. Throughout life, individuals with amblyopia negatively impact the community in a number of circumstances which do not lend themselves to easy quantification. For instance, the lack of two good eyes limit one's opportunities in the business and job market sectors, contributes to higher job-related accidents and lower individual productivity. In the area of work-related injuries, review of the literature reveals that individuals with amblyopia are more than twice as likely as the general populations to sustain injury in the healthy eye. The loss of spatial depth localization may predispose the amblyopic individual to increased accidents. The same disability of faulty or absent depth appreciation precludes amblyopes from qualifying and performing in many vision-dependent career activities. In short, the result is under-performance and low productivity. To further underscore the impact of amblyopia on society, among adults 20-70 years of age, preventable amblyopia ranks as the leading cause of monocular blindness, ahead of such conditions as glaucoma and macular degeneration. Speaking as a concerned citizen, I, for one, would favor the passage of legislation mandating visual screening of all children as a prerequisite for admission to pre-school, similar to the requirement of childhood inoculations. Better Vision for Children Foundation (B.V.C.), is committed to the implementation of a vision screening program for pre-school children employing state-of-the-art technology. I have a vision that San Diego may very well become the first major metropolitan area in this country to conduct mass vision screening of the preverbal-preschool child. Aside from providing the necessary leadership, San Diego could serve as the model that other communities will clamor to emulate. B.V.C. Foundation, and the County of San Diego, in joint partnership, could make this vision a reality and a first in the nation. Finally, the money savings realized as a direct result of supporting the proposed program of childhood visual screening for the early detection and treatment of amblyopia, would over time translate into more available monies to the County, which could be used to fund other pressing community needs. (Signed) Salvatore L. Stella, M.D. Diplomat, American Board of Ophthalmology Charter Member, American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology Pediatric - Adolescent Ophthalmology Medical - Surgical Group of San Diego All Content Copyright © 1998-2003 Better Vision for Children Foundation. All rights reserved.        BVCnow.org NEWS LETTER Necessary Sight-Saving Legislation Moves Forward House of Representatives Passes Health Funding Bill Increases possible for vision loss prevention and research President Bush’s recent veto (10-4-07)  of Childrens Health Bill does not effect our Vision Bills… The House of Representatives passed its version of the FY 2008 Appropriations bill yesterday, providing $154.2 billion for a range of important labor, health, human services and education programs.       With regard to vision, the legislation includes $3.46 million -- a 40 percent increase -- for the Vision Screening and Education program at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Better Vision for Children has applied for a grant from this program to support our efforts to raise awareness and educate individuals about their risk for vision loss, and to screen them for vision problems.      The legislation also included $677 million for the National Eye Institute for biomedical research into vision problems.      House passage of this legislation is only the first step in a lengthy appropriations process, as the Senate must also pass its version of the bill. The legislation also faces an uphill battle with the White House, as the Administration continues to threaten to veto the bill because it exceeds the President’s budget. Mr Cataldo Founder of Better Vision for Children states “we will continue to work to support this legislation to ensure that all vision programs can receive the resources they need.”                           House Committee Passes Vision Care for Kids Act The Vision Care for Kids Act of 2007 (H.R. 507, 7-07) cleared its first hurdle in recent legislative when the House Energy & Commerce Health Subcommittee voted unanimously to pass this legislation. “We have been an ardent supporter of the Vision Care for Kids Act, which was a centerpiece of our Eyes on Capitol Hill agenda” state Mr Cataldo.  Congressmen Green of Texas sponsored this bill       Vision disorders such as amblyopia (“lazy eye”), strabismus (“cross-eye”) and refractive errors are the leading causes of impaired vision in children. Vision problems can harm school performance, impair ability to learn, and can sometimes lead to behavioral problems. Even more troubling, uncorrected amblyopia or strabismus can lead to PERMANENT vision loss. Despite this fact, only 20 percent of children are screened prior to entering school, and only 14 percent of children receive comprehensive vision exams.       H.R. 507 would provide comprehensive eye exams for children who have been identified by a licensed health care provider or vision screener as needing such services.      Recently, the co-chair of the Congressional Vision Caucus reintroduced HR 3750, the Vision Preservation Act of 2007, This legislation will strengthen critical federal programs to prevent blindness and save site      The Vision Preservation Act bolsters vision screening, treatment and rehabilitation efforts at the Center for Disease Control and Pr3evention (CDC) the Maternal and Child Health Bureau, and Federally Qualified Health Centers.  It ensures that the providers are adequately trained in recognizing vision loss and referring patients with vision loss to appropriate follow up care.  The bill would also strengthen efforts to rehabilitate individual with vision loss to ensure that they remain health, active and independent.      While committee passage of the bill is a great first step, more work must be done. The bill needs strong support from both sides of the aisle to ensure that it gets passed by the full House of Representatives. Please write, call or email your Member of Congress and urge him/her to cosponsor H.R. 507.  Visit: http://www.house.gov/writerep/ for a quick email to your Congressperson.   To view complemntaryVideo FAQ click the following link: :http://www.motionbox.com/video/player/1c9bdab21f18e192?segment_begin=0.0#1 WPFO-BVC 501 c, PO 9161, Marina del Rey, CA 90296 US Toll free 1-888-339-FLAG, FOR FREE VIDEO CD EMAIL: support@worldpeaceflag.org  “Together we are making a World of difference!!!”