Vision Screening Requirements

TITLE 77: PUBLIC HEALTH
CHAPTER I: DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH
SUBCHAPTER j: VISION AND HEARING
PART 685 VISION SCREENING
SECTION 685.110 FREQUENCY OF SCREENING

• Section 685.110  Frequency of Screening
  Vision screening services shall be provided annually for:
  - All preschool children 3 years of age (or older) in any public or private educational program or licensed child-care facility.
  - All school age children who are in kindergarten, second and eighth grades; in all special education classes; referred by teachers; and transfer students.  Vision screening is recommended in grades 4, 6, 10 and 12.  Such screening services shall be provided in all public, independent, private and parochial schools.

• In lieu of the screening services required in subsection (a) of this Section, a completed and signed report form, indicating that an eye examination by an M.D. specializing in diseases of the eye or a licensed optometrist has been administered within the previous 12 months, is acceptable.

• The parent or legal guardian of a student may object to vision screening tests for their child on religious grounds.  If a religious objection is made, a written and signed statement from the parent or legal guardian detailing such objections must be presented to the screening entity.

• Individuals conducting vision screening tests shall give a child's parent or guardian written notification, before the vision screening is conducted, that states, "Vision screening is not a substitute for a complete eye and vision evaluation by an eye doctor.  Your child is not required to undergo this vision screening if an optometrist or ophthalmologist has completed and signed a report form indicating that an examination has been administered within the previous 12 months." (Section 27-8.1 of the School Code)

(Source:  Amended at 30 Ill. Reg. 905, effective January 5, 2006)