In Partnership with the Lions of Florida & the Bahamas, we provide leadership and infrastructure for the screening of children (ages 1 through 6) to enhance the early detection and treatment of vision impairments.
KidSight is a FREE vision screening program administered by the Florida KidSight Foundation and Lions Club volunteers to detect vision problems that can cause Amblyopia (lazy eye) in children between the ages of 1 and 6 years old.
Why the screening is necessary
The first few years of a child’s life are critical in the development of good vision. Preschoolers should have their vision checked for issues such as, misaligned eyes and problems that are correctable with eyeglasses. These problems are not always evident by simply looking at a child. Young children often compensate for vision problems so well that parents, teachers, and pediatricians are unaware of a problem. By the time a child is old enough to be in primary grades, many of these common vision-robbing conditions can no longer be effectively treated. Amblyopia can develop when an undetected vision problem goes untreated during a child’s formative years. If not treated, it can lead to poor academic performance (80% of a child’s learning comes through his/her visual system), low self-esteem, limited social and sports involvement and behavioral problems (7 out of 10 juvenile delinquents have an undiagnosed vision problem). One in twenty children is estimated to have some degree of amblyopia. Fortunately, visual improvement is possible if problems that cause amblyopia are detected and treated early; typically prior to age six. Doctors treat amblyopia with glasses, patching, exercises, or surgery. Sadly, many children with amblyopia are not identified because of a lack of good screening programs. The KidSight program is a proven method of screening and referring children for problems that cause amblyopia.
How it’s Done
Local Lions Club volunteers use a state-of-art Plusoptix photo-screening unit to make an image of a child’s eyes. The unit produces a picture and measurement of a child’s eyes and classifies the reading as either a “pass” or “refer.”
Participation Process
To participate in the KidSight screening program, a parent or guardian must sign the Consent Form and return it to the Preschool/Childcare Director. Once the Director has the signed Consent Forms for the subject children, the Lions Club volunteers will come on site and conduct the screening. After a child is screened, the Consent Form is marked as either “passed” or referred” and it is given to Director for return to the parent/guardian. Screening results classified as referred are sent to the Florida KidSight Foundation office for further review and follow-up. The KidSight office will communicate directly with the parent/guardian until the appropriate correction action is implemented. Go to the Parents page for the required documents and forms.
Nausheen Khuddus, MD
Florida KidSight's Medical Director
Board Certified Ophthalmologist
Dr. Nausheen Khuddus is a Board Certified Ophthalmologist who graduated from the Chicago Medical School in Chicago, IL. She completed a residency in general ophthalmology followed by a fellowship in pediatric ophthalmology and strabismus at the University of Florida.
Honors and Leadership:
- Past Associate Professor University of Florida
Gainesville, FL - Medical Director Florida KidSight Foundation
- Exemplary Teaching Award College of Medicine
University of Florida: 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013 - Facilitated over 30 original publications/lectures/presentation
- Faculty of the Year Award: 2013
Medical Memberships & Affiliations:
- American Academy of Ophthalmology
- American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus
Ophthalmology encompasses a complete range of eye care services for infants, children and adolescents. Pediatric ophthalmologists provide care for common childhood eye disorders of childhood as well as comprehensive intervention for children with cancer, neuro-ophthalmic disorders, inherited and neonatal retinal disorders, anterior segment and glaucomatour diseases. Always upbeat and energetic, Dr. Khuddus brings the highest quality care with compassion and understanding to the residents of north central Florida.
Offices:
Family Focus Eye Care
7120 NW 11th Place
Gainesville, FL 32605
(352) 261-0089
Columbia Eye Associates
1615 SW Main Boulevard
Lake City, FL 32025
(386) 755-2785
Columbia Eye Associates/Family Focus Eye Care
105 Grand Street
Live Oak, FL 32064
(386) 401-1814
Cheryl Russell
Florida KidSight's Program Director
IEP Advocate
Cheryl Russell is an IEP Advocate and community helper who uses her skill sets to help the most vulnerable in her community. As an IEP Advocate, she provides advocacy, education, and many resources to children with disabilities in public education and throughout Alachua County. Her experience and passion working in various fields with parents and children make her a successful Program Director for Florida KidSight. As a parent of a child with vision impairments, she understands the importance of early vision screening and is eager to help other children avoid possible vision loss and other side effects that can occur.
Professional Experience and Leadership:
- IEP Advocate
- Disability Advocate
- Founder & Organizer of the Disability Resource Expo
- Preschool Director
- Office Manager
- UF Secretary