""Every day when I see these children it is always a surprise to me that the kids are not getting the care they need," said Ida Chung, a pediatric optometrist and an associate dean at Western University of Health Sciences in Pomona."
"Roughly one in four school-age kids, or 25%, wear glasses or contacts, a proportion that increases as kids get older, according to 2019 federal survey data."
Kekoa Gittens, diagnosed with myopic degeneration at a young age, exemplifies the need for early eye exams. Vision issues, especially nearsightedness, are rising among American children, with 25% of school-age kids wearing glasses or contacts. In California, only 16% of school-age children on Medi-Cal received eye care between 2022 and 2024, a decline from 19% eight years prior. This trend is concerning as it indicates a lack of necessary care for children, particularly those from low-income backgrounds.
Read at Los Angeles Times
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