Optometric association: 88 percent of third-graders who fail reading test had vision problem

When Hattiesburg optometrist Megan Sumrall Lott and her colleagues heard in May 2015 that nearly 15 percent of Mississippi's third-graders had failed the state's first administration of the reading test, they were concerned. Lott said they suspected the problem wasn't the students' inability to read, but a difficulty with vision.

"We all got on a conference call and said, 'What can we do about this?'" Lott remembered. "(We said), 'Let's offer free eye exams to children with no insurance who have failed the test and give them glasses at no cost if they need them.

"Almost every optometrist participated in 2015 and continues to do so."

Once again this year, members of the Mississippi Optometric Association and the Mississippi Vision Foundation, including Lott at her Bellevue Specialty Eye Care practice, are offering the free exams to third-graders who failed the test.

It turned out Lott and her colleagues were right about why a lot of students weren't passing the third-grade reading test. Results of previous association and foundation third-grade eye exams revealed 88 percent of the students who failed the test needed some form of visual intervention.  

"Only by partnering with our schools can we begin to see change take place," said association president Mike Wheeden in a news release. "The MOA and its foundation are pleased to be a part of making a difference in the lives of students, and we are committed to identifying those students who have vision problems."

This May, 8 percent of third-graders, or more than 3,000 students in the state, did not pass the test. Lott said many of them may have vision problems. She cites a 2008 study done for the Essilor Vision Foundation which discovered many students are struggling because of poor eyesight or other vision difficulties.

"One in four children had vision problems," Lott said. "(The study) looked at 9-15-year-olds. Ninety percent of children who needed glasses did not have them."

Lott said when schools perform vision screenings, typically only distance vision is tested. But most classroom activities, like reading, writing and computer work, require near vision. Therefore, other tests need to be added to screenings.

"School exams won't identify anything but nearsightedness," Lott said.

The study found even when children with vision problems are identified  through school examinations, 40 percent to 60 percent do not receive the recommended follow-up eye exams or glasses.

Lott, whose specialty includes children, has a checklist of 19 symptoms that help patients identify if they have a vision problem. Some of those symptoms include reading issues like words that run together, closing one eye when reading, omitting small words when reading and poor reading comprehension.

Lott said she hopes students who failed the third-grade reading test and do not have insurance will take advantage of the no-cost eye exams.

"I would hope more and more children would come in every year as the word gets out," she said. "I want parents to know, if a child is struggling (with reading), there is help.

"There are people in the community who want to see their child succeed."

To locate a participating optometrist: Parents of eligible third-graders should go to www.msvisionfoundation.org.