LAKE MARY, Fla., July 1, 2013 – According to the Centers for Disease Control, approximately 6.8 percent of school-age children in the United States have a diagnosed eye and vision issue [1]. But how many more children may be silently suffering from poor eye health due to having never been examined? On March 14, PediaVision staff faced this question when they visited Madison Square Boys & Girls Club to help complete a vision screening.
Logo Link: http://www.ereleases.com/pic/Spot_Logo-blu(5).jpg
Madison Square Boys & Girls club serves children at clubhouses in New York City’s most disadvantaged communities. Using PediaVision’s award-winning Spot vision screener, the club discovered that approximately 20 percent of the more than 70 children examined had problems with their vision.
While doctors recommend that children have their vision tested by age 5, less than 22 percent of preschool children receive vision screening and less than 15 percent receive a full eye exam [2]. Since vision problems are often not obvious, a significant number of untested children could have trouble reading or performing tasks that require depth perception.
“When I chat with parents and kids, I often get frustrated with the low level of attention given to general health. The free eye screening was a much-needed service for our club members,” said Eric Bell, director of the clubhouse.
Bell and the clubhouse staff were particularly impressed with Spot’s speed and accuracy. The traditional Snellen eye chart is time-consuming and requires verbal feedback even from patients who are very young or do not speak English well. The wireless, handheld Spot, on the other hand, quickly identifies potential vision issues in adults through infants as young as 6 months and displays the results instantly and accurately
“We were all really impressed by how easy Spot was to use and how much information it gave us in a matter of seconds,” said Bell. “The device looked like a camera so instead of being anxious about a strange medical device, the kids were really receptive. The parents thought the whole thing was awesome. They were so grateful that we held the event.”
Children who did not pass the screening received gift certificates for free eye exams and glasses compliments of VSP® Vision Care and Transitions Optical, partners in creating a clinic in the Mobile Eyes fleet.
“Disadvantaged kids tend to fall through the cracks when it comes to things like eye health and that leads to [potential challenges] later in life because no one understands what’s wrong,” said Bell. “Having great services like Spot and the follow-up care donated to us is incredibly important. On behalf of the young people that received the services, I want to thank PediaVision and their partners for their time and dedication. I hope they can come out again soon.”
About Madison Square Boys & Girls Club
Since 1884, Madison has been saving and enhancing the lives of youth by providing after-school and summer programs in New York City’s most disadvantaged communities. Five core service areas ensure members receive much-needed resources, guidance, and support as they progress academically and socially. A founding member of Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Madison serves more than 5,000 youth, ages 6 to 18, at seven sites throughout the Bronx and Brooklyn as well as at Camp Madison in Kingston, New York. Great Futures Start Here: www.madisonsquare.org.
About PediaVision
PediaVision, inventor of the award winning Spot vision screener, is dedicated to solving the vital health issue of undiagnosed vision problems and transforming the lives of thousands of children each day. A child with an undetected or untreated vision problem is more likely to develop social or emotional problems [3]. Thus, a child's vision problems can affect not only their own learning, but that of their peers. PediaVision is committed to assisting children in reaching their full potential by providing an objective and accurate vision-screening device for public and private healthcare providers.
Supported by ophthalmologists, optometrists, scientists and leading technology innovators, the Spot vision screener is a breakthrough technology and represents what vision screening should be. For more information, including how to order Spot, please visit www.pediavision.com.
[1] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2009) Vision Health Initiative: Fast Facts.
[2] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.). Improving the Nation’s Vision Health: A Coordinated Public Health Approach
[3] Charles E. Basch. (2010). Teachers College, Columbia University. A Research Initiative of the Campaign for Educational Equity Teachers College, Columbia University.
Media Contact:
Jeff Mortensen
321-377-3095