Approximately 80 percent of what a child learns is learned visually. Early detection and treatment of vision disorders are important to maximize a child's visual potential. The longer eye conditions are left untreated, the more likely they are to worsen, affecting learning ability, athletic performance and self-esteem.
Nationally, only 38% of three year olds are screened for vision problems. Well-child check ups offer the primary care provider an opportunity, on a yearly basis, to screen the child's vision for potential vision problems that can worsen and become more difficult to successfully treat if left until age six or seven.
Ohio's senior adult population is expanding at a rapid rate as the Baby Boomer population ages, and with this expansion comes a significant number of vision problems and age related eye diseases.
Today, there are 1,259,000 older Ohioans affected by vision problems that if not detected and treated early, could lead to blindness. Because of the growth in the aging population, there will be more than 2.5 million Ohioans affected by vision-robbing conditions by the year 2030!
According to the National Commission on Prevention Priorities, vision screening by primary care clinicians is one of the 25 preventive health services that offers the greatest potential for preventing future disease as well as for improving quality of life. Increasing the use of proven preventive services, such as vision screening, will result in fewer people suffering from diseases that could have been prevented at early stages.
To increase the visual quality of life for Ohio's children and adults, Prevent Blindness Ohio is offering FREE 4 hour trainings that will provide instruction on how to perform adult and preschool vision screenings.
Information is also provided on how to access sources for free/low cost eye wear and eye exams for your medically indigent patients.
Upon successful completion of the training, as well as a two-hour homework component, participants are eligible to receive free vision screening equipment. The preschool equipment includes:
*Lea Symbol Chart for Screening for visual acuity
*Model A Good-Lite Visual Acuity cabinet
*Random Dot E stereopsis test
*Assorted children's vision care resources and brochures.
The adult equipment includes:
*Near Visual Acuity Chart
*Distance Visual Acuity Chart
*Damato Campimeter (for visual field measurement)
*Damato Recording Forms
*Assorted adult vision resources and brochures
ADULT Training sessions are scheduled for the following dates and locations:
Cincinnati: 10/4/07 from 1:00. 5:00 pm
Wyoming Public Library
500 Springfield Pike, Cincinnati, OH 45215
Cleveland: 9/26/07 from 8:30 am. 12:30 pm
The Free Clinic of Cleveland
12201 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, OH 44106
Columbus: 10/10/07 from 1:00. 5:00 pm
Grandview Heights Public Library
1685 W. 1st Avenue, Columbus, OH 43212
PRESCHOOL Training sessions are scheduled for the following dates and locations:
Cincinnati: 10/25/07 from 1:00. 5:00 pm
Wyoming Public Library
500 Springfield Pike, Cincinnati, OH 45215
Cleveland: 9/25/07 from 8:30 am. 12:30 pm
The Free Clinic of Cleveland
12201 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, OH 44106
Columbus: 9/26/07 from 1:00. 5:00 pm
Grandview Heights Public Library
1685 W. 1st Avenue, Columbus, OH 43212
To register, go to www.pbohio.org.