Fy-Eye February 2018

A video featuring Dr. Tracey Strombeck, an optometrist from Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin, was made to inform parents, teachers and nurses about the importance as well as the process of a pediatric eye exam. This video also features Prevent Blindness Wisconsin’s 2017 Preschool Vision Screening Ambassador, Addisyn. Funding for this video was made possible through the Medical College of Wisconsin’s Advancing a Healthier Wisconsin Endowment. Watch the video below!

Success Story Spotlight

Emerson, age 4, was caught at Nekoosa Head Start by the Grand Rapids Lions Club. His mom writes, “Vision screening helped us realize that Emerson was having a hard time seeing things clearly. We are sad we didn’t notice before, but happy that he can see now.”

If you know other families with stories to share, please see our Success Story Questionnaire. As a thank you for their story and a picture, Prevent Blindness Wisconsin will provide the family with a free vision-related book. 

Lions

We are cheering on the Lions in their Centennial Vision Screening Challenge. Lions across the state have a goal of performing 100,000 children’s vision screenings in celebration of 100 years of Lions International community service. So far, the Wisconsin Lions have reported over 80,000 vision screenings! Thank you for all of your dedication and hard work! Make sure your screenings count towards this goal, please submit your vision screening numbers to your district vision screening chair shortly after screening. Click here for your reporting form.

A vision screening does not end in a simple pass or referral. We want to make sure that referred children get the care they need! Please consider asking the site contact if he/she is in need of help throughout the follow-up process to get the children to care.

Upcoming Lions Training

Children’s Vision Screener Training and Certification + Plusoptix

MD-27 A2 District Convention

Saturday, February 17, 2018 

8:00am- 10:30am 

Country Inn and Suites – Port Washington

350 E Seven Hills Rd

Port Washington, WI 53074

Register Now!

Volunteer Update

Thank you to all of our new and returning volunteers who have attended vision screener trainings this January. We are excited to have you on board and look forward to a great semester of screening! 

Are you interested in providing free vision screenings to children in your community? Contact Sarah Campbell to learn more about volunteer opportunities near you.

Numbers Needed

Thank you to everyone who has already shared vision screening numbers this year. We love celebrating all of the great work that you are doing to support children’s healthy vision in Wisconsin. If you still need to report vision screening numbers from this year, please see the Annual Statistical Request Form for Nurses and Head Starts. Please note that all vision screening numbers from this school year are due by March 23, 2018.

Calling all Nurses

Have a cool story to share about a child’s life you touched through vision screening? Our Success story challenge has been EXTENDED! For every story we receive from your school between now and March 1, you will receive one entry into a drawing for an Amazon Gift Card. The child will also receive a free vision-related book as a thank you for sharing their story and photo. Find the success story questionnaire here. 

Are you a nurse or health aide in need of Children’s Vision Screening Certification or renewal? Prevent Blindness Wisconsin offers training and 3-year certification for $35 per person with a minimum of 10 people present. You can find the full list of trainings here. Contact Valerie to set up a training near you.

Head Start Staff Trained

Prevent Blindness Wisconsin trained 21 Family Advocates at the Rock-Walworth Comprehensive Family Service Head Start/ Early Head Start in January. Certified staff learned how to conduct a vision screening for Early Head Start children (0-3) in a way that meets Head Start compliance standards. Prevent Blindness Wisconsin shared new follow-up resources and parent education materials with the attendees. There was a large interest in the vision-care voucher programs, with many staff expressing that children had broken glasses and they would love to help them get a new pair. 

Grants Galore

Prevent Blindness Wisconsin is proud to announce we have received a grant from the Brewers Community Foundation in support of our Head Start Vision Health program at Acelero Head Start sites in Milwaukee. Thank you Brewers Community Foundation for helping ensure low-income children have the healthy vision they need to start their educational careers with success!

February is AMD and Low Vision Awareness Month

Age. It’s just a number. But does this saying have the same meaning with aging eyes? Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) is an age-related vision problem that affects our central vision. AMD is a leading cause of blindness in adults 50 years and older. This debilitating disease does not show much grace in its effects on vision health; there are little signs of the disease until vision is permanently lost. The disease is projected to increase at a steady rate, greatly impacting the aging population. Receiving dilated eye exams is the only way to diagnose AMD, making it very important to receive them as recommended by your eye doctor.

Show support and raise awareness for AMD and low vision by following Bausch + Lomb #WHYEYEFIGHT campaign on Facebook. Bausch + Lomb will be donating up to $50,000 to Prevent Blindness for every like and share. Help us and join the #WHYEYEFIGHT movement by liking and sharing their posts and using the hashtag throughout the month of February. And show us whyYOUfight for AMD!

Your continuous support allows us to carry out our vision for each Wisconsin resident to have healthy vision at every stage of life.

Upcoming Events

Annual Meeting of the Board

Thursday, May 17, 2018

Italian Community Center

Swing for Sight Golf Outing

Monday, June 4, 2018

Ozaukee Country Club

About Us

Founded in 1958, Prevent Blindness Wisconsin improves the lives of children, adults, and families through early detection of eye conditions to prevent blindness and preserve sight. On-going vision screening activities and state-wide public health education lead to a lifetime of healthy vision.

wisconsin.preventblindness.org

[email protected]