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No One Noticed that Kennedy couldnít see out of her left eye - not even her parents. Read more about Kennedy's story
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NO ONE NOTICED THAT KENNEDY COULDN'T SEE OUT OF HER LEFT EYE.
Despite routine pediatrician visits and participating in a school vision screening, no one noticed that Kennedy Biederman couldn't see out of her left eye. Not even her parents.
"Neither I nor my husband wear glasses, so we just took it for granted that our daughter would have good eyesight as well," said Kennedy's mother, Jill. But when Kennedy finally visited an eye doctor, she was legally blind in her left eye; her "good" right eye had only 20/80 vision.
"I was mortified," Jill said. "I could not understand how she was reading or even functioning in school." Kennedy's story is not uncommon. Millions of children have a hidden vision problem that can interfere with learning. If not corrected early, some vision problems, such as amblyopia, can lead to permanent vision loss. "Kennedy is a prime example of what can happen if parents don't take their child to the eye doctor before starting school," said Dr. Cathy Doty, a specialist in pediatric vision.
"Making sure children have regular eye exams by an eye doctor is the best way to ensure healthy vision and school success."
It's advice the Biedermans wish they'd received sooner.
Learn the warning signs and risks for vision problems in children.