The OPHS specifies that boards of health shall provide, in collaboration with community partners, visual health supports and screening services in schools based on the Child Visual Health and Vision Screening Protocol (2018).
Examples of local data that influence program implementation include:
- In 2016, 57% of 3-6 years olds from WEC did not have an eye exam by either an optometrist or a physician.
- The WECHU vision screening pilot (2018/19 school year) screened 1494 children in a total of 54 schools.
- In 2018/19, 67% (1005) of SK children passed all three-vision tests and 33% (499) children were referred to an optometrist for a comprehensive eye exam.
- There are approximately 4000 SK children attending WEC elementary schools to be screened in the 2019/20 school year.