Missouri School Eye Exams
The following information was taken in part from Senate Bill 16: Beginning July 1, 2008, every child enrolling in kindergarten or first grade in a public elementary school in Missouri shall receive one comprehensive vision examination performed by a state licensed optometrist or physician. Evidence of the examination shall be submitted to the school no later than January first of the first year in which the student is enrolled at the school, provided that the evidence submitted in no way violates any provisions of the Public Law 1004-191, 42 U.S.C. 201 et seq. Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996.
The following vision examinations shall be included, but not limited to:
- complete case history
- visual acuity at distance (aided and unaided)
- external examination and internal examination (ophthalmoscopic examination)
- subjective refraction to best visual acuity
- findings from the evidence of examination shall be provided to the department of health and senior service and be kept by the optometrist or physician for a period of seven years
- In the event that a parent or legal guardian of a child subject to this section shall submit to the appropriate school administrator’s written request that the child be excused from taking a vision examination as provided in this section, that child shall be so excused.
