Lions screen kids for vision problems
Published 11:32 am Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Franklin Lions Club member Harry Christie, left, tests Taraji Ruffin’s eyesight while Lion Dick Gilbert assists in seating. The Lions recently screened 30 students at The Stop Organization Head Start Program. See story on Page A4.
By Dick Gilbert
FRANKLIN—Franklin Lions Club recently screened 30 students ages 3 to 5 for vision problems.
It was determined that 11 of the students, who are enrolled at The Stop Organization Head Start Program, had possible problems that could hamper their ability to learn.
The Lions are not professionals, yet it is important for parents to get their children’s eyes examined by an eye care specialist if problems were found.
The Lions used the PediaVision photo screening system, which consists of a camera, computer and printer. The camera takes 18 images of the child’s eyes in less than a second and transmits them to the computer.
The computer compares the images to standards for six types of defects, including near-sightedness, far-sightedness, significant variance in eye power between the eyes, blurred vision, asymmetric vision and unequal pupil size.
Letter were sent home to parents with results.
Those who planned or conducted the screening included Tammy Cannon-Woods and Sarah Jeter from the Head Start Program; Lion Donna Weiler from the Richmond County club; and Harry Christy, Ron Ratcliffe, Jim Drewry and Dick Gilbert from the Franklin Lions Club.
