Wife of Illinois governor campaigns for better vision screening efforts

Patti Blagojevich, right, first lady of Illinois, and Lee Salzman, Mrs. Blagojevich’s chief of staff, have been working on the Illinois Pediatric Vision and Amblyopia Campaign since 2004. The campaign was conceived after Ms. Salzman’s son was diagnosed with untreatable amblyopia.

CHICAGO — The first lady of Illinois is leading an effort in her state to improve vision screening, and she called on insurance companies to pay pediatricians for vision screening as part of well-child visits.

Patti Blagojevich, the wife of Illinois Governor Rod R. Blagojevich, said here that better pediatric vision screening programs are needed to avoid preventable vision loss in children.

The Illinois Pediatric Vision and Amblyopia Campaign was launched in 2004, Mrs. Blagojevich said, after she became personally aware of the need for better screening efforts through the unfortunate experience of a staff member.

Speaking at the Pediatric Ophthalmology Subspecialty Day here at the American Academy of Ophthalmology meeting, Mrs. Blagojevich said the idea for the campaign was germinated 4 years ago when she learned that an associate’s 7-year-old son had become blind in his left eye due to untreated amblyopia.

“How could this happen in this state and country to a child who kept up with his well visits?” Mrs. Blagojevich asked.

She said pediatricians “are overwhelmed” and that they do not know enough about amblyopia.

“It ends up in a heap of other problems,” she said. “Vision screening should be a part of all well visits. And insurance must pay for these screenings if they’re going to get done.”

In an interview with Ocular Surgery News, Mrs. Blagojevich said that vision screening “needs to be put on the list of things to talk about with pediatricians” during well-child visits.

“In addition to talking about vaccines and weight gain, parents need to know to bring vision into the dialogue. Doctors need to screen these patients earlier to prevent vision problems,” she said.

To date, through the Illinois Pediatric Vision and Amblyopia Campaign, nearly 1.5 million brochures on amblyopia and vision screening have been distributed to parents, teachers and caregivers, she said.

Mrs. Blagojevich also touted the Illinois governor’s All Kids health insurance proposal, which will provide affordable health insurance to children in the state.

As part of her presentation at the meeting, Mrs. Blagojevich presented the Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich PATH (People are Today’s Heroes) Award to Marilyn T. Miller, MD. Dr. Miller received the award in recognition of the care she has provided to children for the past 30 years, Mrs. Blagojevich said.