The Early Detection of Vision Impairments Act aims to establish the first federal program dedicated to children’s vision and eye health. While state and community levels atypically implement systems to protect children’s eyesight and prevent avoidable vision loss, local and state laws on provisions and protocols for care vary widely.

According to Prevent Blindness, the Early Detection of Vision Impairments (EDVI) Act proposes federal grants for states and local communities so all children can be screened regularly for vision problems and receive follow-up care as their vision changes. It also aims to improve awareness, remove barriers to eye care access, and develop state-based data collection systems.

According to Prevent Blindness, if the EDVI act is enacted, the Health Resources and Services Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will provide resources for technical assistance and promote collaboration across federal agencies, including the Department of Education, to “support schools, early childhood professionals, health care providers, public health professionals, and families with updated and evidence-based vision screening methods, improve referrals to eye care, and advance follow-up protocols to ensure that children who need eye care treatment receive it before a vision problem leads to potential vision loss.”

“Other public health programs are in place to support many other important aspects of child health and development— including children’s hearing and oral health,” Prevent Blindness says in their statement on the legislation. “Children’s vision health deserves the same level of action.”