The bill is based on the 2021 Report of the Childhood Vision and Eye Health Commission and would implement its recommendations by creating a computerized registry of children’s vision screening eye care and a children’s vision and eye health advisory council within the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. This council would establish recommendations for improved children’s vision and eye health to facilitate short and long-term vision and eye health goals. The legislation also expands the current requirement for a recent eye exam for children entering kindergarten to those entering pre-school. Further, it would apply the requirement for an eye exam to also include private schools.

This bill is crucial to ensure no child falls behind due to lack of access to basic vision care. Approximately 10% of all preschool children have eye or vision problems. Research shows that 90% of all information processed by the brain arrives through the visual system — eye care and vision play integral roles in healthcare and are fundamental to learning. Currently, for pre-school aged children, if symptoms of vision impairment are not caught by a parent, guardian, or educator, they risk losing integral developmental years.