CHICAGO—Prevent Blindness America (PBA) has established the National Center for Children’s Vision and Eye Health, made possible by a multi-year cooperative agreement from the Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB), a bureau of the Health Resources and Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

The new program is designed to serve as a major resource for the establishment of a public health infrastructure to advance and promote children’s vision and eyecare, as well as provide leadership development, health promotion, education, and training to public and private entities throughout the U.S., PBA said.

“The National Center for Children’s Vision and Eye Health was created to assist the more than 12 million school-age children who have some form of vision problem,” said Hugh R. Parry, president and CEO of Prevent Blindness America.

As part of the first phase of the new initiative, PBA has formed the National Center for Children’s Vision and Eye Health National Expert Panel comprised of leading professionals in ophthalmology, optometry, pediatrics, public health, academia, family representatives and other related fields who have a vested interest in the field of children’s vision and eye health.

Members of the Expert Panel will provide recommendations for national and statewide strategies to develop public health infrastructure that ensures early detection and a continuum of vision and eyecare for children through improved quality measures, data systems and screening guidelines.

The National Expert Panel is chaired by Dr. Shirley Russ, Clinical Professor of Pediatrics, Health Sciences at the University of California, Los Angeles. Serving as Chair Advisors are Dr. Joseph M. Miller, MPH, Pediatric Ophthalmologist and Professor and Head of Ophthalmology and Vision Science at the University of Arizona, College of Medicine, and Dr. Sandra S. Block, Professor of Optometry at Illinois College of Optometry and Public Health Committee member of Prevent Blindness America. ■ ■