Scottsdale Arizona

September is Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month

This is Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month, and health care providers want you to know that it’s possible for your child to have a serious vision problem without you even knowing about it. Dr. Philip Shettle, osteopathic physician, ophthalmologist, and past President of the American Osteopathic Association explains.
ANCHOR LEAD: More than 12 million children suffer from some type of vision impairment. That’s why the American Academy of Ophthalmology is declaring the month of September, “Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month.” Erin McLean has more. (:59)

SCRIPT: Healthcare Now, I’m Erin McLean. This is Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month and Health Care Providers want you to know that it’s possible for your child to have a serious vision problem without you even knowing about it. Dr. Philip Shettle, osteopathic physician, ophthalmologist, and past President of the American Osteopathic Association.

CUT: (Dr. Shettle) If your child is having trouble seeing the blackboard or the words in a book, performance in school can suffer. That’s why it’s important to have your child’s eyes checked.

SCRIPT: Dr. Shettle says all children, even those with no signs of vision trouble, should receive regular vision screenings and comprehensive eye examinations. But that’s not all.

CUT: (Dr. Shettle) Accidents are a major cause of preventable blindness. The best defense against eye injury is for children to wear protective eyewear during high risk activities like participating in athletics or mowing the lawn. Remember, the best medicine is preventative medicine.