About the Abrahamson Pediatric Eye Institute
The Abrahamson Pediatric Eye Institute (APEI) is part of the Division of Ophthalmology at Cincinnati Children’s, and was started in 1995 by local eye doctor and philanthropist Dr. Ira Abrahamson. His goal was simple: prevent blindness in children whenever possible.
Earlier in his career, Dr. Abrahamson performed eye surgery in the U.S. Army. Many of his patients were young adults whose eyes were not properly aligned (sometimes called “crossed eyes” or “wandering eyes”). He realized that, although surgery helped them, their results would have been much better if the problem had been found and treated when they were children. That experience inspired him to focus on early vision screening for kids.
What is “lazy eye” (amblyopia)?
Amblyopia, often called “lazy eye,” is the most common cause of preventable vision loss in children.
It happens when one eye is not used properly. Over time, the brain starts to ignore that eye, and vision becomes weaker.
- If treated early, vision can often be corrected.
- If not treated, vision loss can become permanent — and may even lead to blindness.
Because of this, early eye exams are very important.
The Vision Screening Program
To help catch problems early, the APEI began a community vision screening program in 1996.
Today, trained volunteers routinely visit schools, health fairs, and community programs across Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky.
The program currently:
- Screens children under age 7 - screening at a young age helps us find eye problems early - especially those that can be treated or corrected
- Looks for vision problems that can still be corrected
- Provides glasses or eye patches when appropriate
- Refers children to eye doctors for follow-up care
We have screened more than 3,000 children at 29 schools and community sites. Over 20% were found to have treatable vision problems that could be corrected and were referred to an eye care professional for follow-up care.
How common are vision problems in children?
About 3–5% of children in North America have vision loss that could be reversed with early treatment. Most of these cases are caused by amblyopia.
There is a “use it or lose it” effect: if a child doesn’t use one eye, that eye may stop developing normal vision. After about age 6 or 7, it becomes much harder — or impossible — to fix.
Why might a child stop using one eye?
Possible causes include:
- Eyes that are not aligned (one eye turns in or out)
- Differences in vision strength between the two eyes
- Rarely, serious conditions such as an eye tumor
Early screening helps detect these issues before permanent damage occurs.
What happens during a vision screening?
Our screenings and exams may include:
- Visual acuity test: Your child looks at a chart with symbols to help us measure how clearly they can see.
- Eye alignment (muscle balance) test: Using a small light, the doctor checks how your child’s eyes line up and move together. This helps detect crossed eyes or other alignment concerns.
- Depth perception test: We check how well your child can see in three dimensions and judge distances.
Contact the Vision Screening Program
Carol Weinel, COA, Vision Screening Coordinator
Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center
3333 Burnet Ave.
MLC 4008
Cincinnati, OH 45229-3039
513-636-4751
carol.weinel@cchmc.org*
* Please do not send personal health information. Information sent through email is neither secure nor confidential.
