Vision problems in children are often undiagnosed.

On its website and on the air, WJZ-TV Baltimore, MD (5/21, 6:31 p.m. EDT, Lynn), a CBS affiliate, reported that "a study out of Johns Hopkins Children's Center," which was "funded by the National Eye Institute," found that "although vision problems are rare among urban preschoolers, many children with easily treatable problems are not being diagnosed." In the "study of nearly 2,300 children," researchers "found five percent had a defect in the eye's ability to focus light, but only one percent were treated." Study author Michael Repka, MD, attributed the lack of treatment to "lack of access." Dr. Repka explained, "There are no structured programs that are available in the community, to look for refractive errors." He added, "An uncorrected refractive error can lead to permanent visual loss." According to WJZ-TV, "the study should serve as a reminder for parents of children between the ages of three and four to ask their pediatrician for an eye chart exam."