An eye condition where vision in one eye is significantly different from vision in the other, amblyopia affects approximately three percent of children under 6. It is also one of the most common vision conditions SHA finds during vision screening. Even though amblyopia is often called "lazy eye," the eye has no outward signs of vision problems, (turning of the eye is called strabismus), so it is difficult for a parent or even a pediatrician to detect.

The Sight & Hearing Association screened Carter and Mitchell, both 3.5 years old, last year at Kinderberry Hill in Plymouth, where their mom, Kate, works as a preschool teacher. Kate had no inclination that her sons were having any problems with their vision. However, when she saw they hadn't passed the vision screening, she immediately made an appointment with a pediatric ophthalmologist. The doctor found both boys needed glasses to correct amblyopia - something Kate is all too familiar with herself.

"I had the same issue when I was younger," she explained. "I was in first or second grade when I got glasses [for amblyopia], but I never wore them, so my vision was never corrected. I was a very stubborn child."

Her reluctance to wear glasses affects her today. She has permanent vision loss in her left eye

If amblyopia is not treated before age 7 or 8, the brain learns to "turn off" the amblyopic eye, causing permanent vision loss. That is why it is important to find and treat this condition early - and one of the reasons why Sight & Hearing Association screens preschoolers.

Carter and Mitchell, now almost 5, have faithfully worn their glasses for a year. Of course, their glasses are identical except for the color: Carter's are brown and Mitchell's are red.

According to their mom, getting them to wear their glasses was never a struggle. "I think they figured out pretty fast they could see a lot better with them."

Another area where the twins are doing better is with their hearing. When they were nearly 2, they both had tubes put in to help curb the onslaught of ear infections.

"For their first two winters, they had constant ear infections. Once they had the tubes put in, they rarely had ear infections." They recently just had the tubes taken out.

Carter and Mitchell are now ready and excited to start kindergarten next fall.

And Kate is grateful for the screening. "In church we learn that God sends us messages in different ways, I think [the opportunity to have this screening] was one of the ways He was telling me to get it checked out."

To help those children who are referred for vision problems but can't afford glasses, SHA offers the Vision Voucher Project for Kids. Through this program, now in its fourth year, SHA grants uninsured or under-insured low-income children vouchers for a free eye exam and glasses. Last year, 1,178 vouchers were issued and 201 were redeemed, totaling $16,910. One out of eight of the redeemed vouchers were for children diagnosed with amblyopia.

SHA also was active screening adults for visual acuity, glaucoma and hearing. Each month, SHA partners with Vision Loss Resources and the University of Minnesota's Department of Communication Disorders to screen senior citizens. Medica's Speaking of Women's Health conference, TCF's employee health fair, and Good Age newspaper senior health event are a few of the other opportunities SHA had to reach adults during 2004.

SHA was in the forefront of spreading our message via research-related awareness campaigns. For example, our annual noisy toys study in December garnered national media interest, helping to educate parents on the dangers of loud toys. We also partnered for the ninth year with Minnesota audiologists to offer free hearing screenings for International Noise Awareness Day in April. In addition, our web site at www.sightandhearing.org continues to generate requests for information from people worldwide. According to our statistical log, three million people have visited our site.

At the Sight & Hearing Association, we are proud your dollar goes a long way. Only 8.5 cents of each dollar donated goes toward fundraising and management expenses. Few charities can make the same claim.

Although the Council does not endorse or disapprove of any organization, its standards are generally accepted baseline indicators of accountable, ethical and healthy organizations, and the Council encourages donors to support charities that meet its standards. A copy of the Council's report on the Sight & Hearing Association can be found at www.crcmn.org/review/sightandhearing.pdf.