By Roger Allen
Montezuma Lions conducted an Iowa KidSight vision screening for 17 Montezuma preschool children, Tuesday and Wednesday, Nov. 28-29. Results will be reported later after the images have been analyzed by vision specialists.
Iowa KidSight is a joint project of the Lions Clubs of Iowa and the Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences at the University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital, dedicated to enhancing early detection and treatment of vision impairments in young children (target population 6 months of age through kindergarten) in Iowa communities through screening and public education.
A vision screening can identify issues when a child cannot recognize or describe a problem. The vision-screening program of the Lions Clubs of Iowa and the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences at University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital, offers free vision screenings for children six months old through kindergarten.
Vision screenings are performed by Lions Club volunteers in communities throughout Iowa by taking a photo of a child’s eyes with a specialized camera. After screenings are complete, the results are interpreted by vision specialists at UI Stead Family Children’s Hospital. If a potential vision problem is detected, parents will receive a referral letter and a list of local ophthalmologists and optometrists to contact for further eye care.
Early detection and treatment of a vision problem can prevent amblyopia (lazy eye). It can also make a difference in a child’s ability to learn and excel. In the 23 years of the program over 700,000 Iowa children have been screened, with 5.7 percent referrals for further examination and possible treatment.