U.S. Senator teams up with the 'Check Yearly' campaign

United States Senator Christopher 'Kit' Bond (R-MO) has revealed that he suffers from permanent vision loss in one eye as a result of undiagnosed amblyopia in childhood. Bond also pledged his support for efforts that educate parents about the important role of preventive vision care for children.

Amblyopia is the leading cause of vision loss in young Americans and affects approximately 500,000 preschoolers. If detected and treated early, vision loss from amblyopia can be largely prevented. However, a recent study issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that just one in three children receive any form of preventive vision care before entering school.

'It is absolutely vital that parents take their children to an eye doctor before starting school', Senator Bond said. 'Had I done so, I could have avoided a lifetime of vision loss'.

Senator Bond has teamed up with the 'Check Yearly' campaign to educate parents about the importance of eye exams for children. He will appear in a public service announcement (PSA) with Kennedy Biederman, the National Amblyopia Youth Spokesperson. The PSA will be distributed to more than 7,000 media outlets and will be converted into a poster that will be distributed nationwide.

'The Check Yearly campaign is leading the fight to prevent blindness in America and improve our nation's vision health', Senator Bond said. 'I urge teachers and parents, community leaders and policymakers to support the Check Yearly campaign and educate Americans about the important role eye exams play in preserving healthy vision'.

'We commend Senator Bond for his leadership and willingness to speak out on this very personal issue', said Andrea Gluck, Chairman of the Vision Council of America, the sponsor of the Check Yearly campaign. 'By educating Americans about the importance of preventative vision care, he can help millions avoid unnecessary vision loss'.