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]

Support Prevent Blindness Wisconsin

Support Prevent Blindness Wisconsin throughout the year by holding an event in our honor at your work, school or church. Some ideas include:

– Jeans Day

– Dedicate your birthday

– Bake sale

Please contact Bridget at [email protected] for PBW marketing materials.

NACDD Success

The National Association of Chronic Disease Directors (funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) selected Prevent Blindness Wisconsin for federal funding of $58,875 (100% of program costs) to build and expand the capacity of preventative adult vision health programming within the City of Milwaukee Public Health Department. We will collaborate to integrate the Adult Vision Health Program into existing health services offered through the Breast and Cervical Cancer Awareness Program and the Milwaukee Consortium for Hmong Health.

We are honored to have been selected to receive this funding which will give us the opportunity to expand our Adult Vision Health program to reach some of the most vulnerable and at-risk populations in Milwaukee while identifying ways to improve access to vision care.

Thanks to this funding, Prevent Blindness Wisconsin hired an Adult Program Assistant, Kevin Stearns, to support program delivery. Mr. Stearns will graduate from UW-Parkside with his Bachelor’s of Psychology in Spring 2019. His dedication to Prevent Blindness Wisconsin’s mission is clear through his work volunteering as an adult and children’s vision screener over the past several years as well as his role assisting Dr. Sandra Millon-Underwood at UW-Milwaukee with research on diabetes and vision health. Welcome to Prevent Blindness Wisconsin, Kevin!

Thank you to the National Association of Chronic Disease Directors and Centers for Disease Control for this opportunity and to our new partners at the City of Milwaukee Public Health Department and Milwaukee Consortium for Hmong Health. Together, we can make healthy vision a priority in Wisconsin!

Join us for the 24th Annual Swing for Sight Golf Outing on Monday, June 3 at the Ozaukee Country Club. This full day event features open golf in the morning with an 18-hole scramble in the afternoon, putting contest, raffle, iron and live auction and more! Visit our event website: bidpal.net/24thswingforsight for more information.

Reserve your foursome today by contacting Bridget at [email protected] or 414-765-0505 ext. 107.

Sponsorship opportunities are available. For more information please contact Julie at [email protected] or 414-765-0505 ext. 102.

Success Story: Meet Auggie!

Auggie is a 4K student at Orchard Ridge Elementary School in Madison. Auggie’s mom says, “His vision had worsened considerably since he was seen last year (after being screened and referred by his grandmother Betsy, a Prevent Blindness Wisconsin Volunteer Vision Screener). We’re thankful that we have both Grandma Betsy and resources through our school for vision screenings. I’m certain that we may not have known about Auggie’s need for glasses without these wonderful people. He is now used to wearing his glasses whenever he’s awake and is loving seeing the world more clearly! He’s also been a good role model for others in his classroom who will also be getting glasses soon as a result of their screenings. Thanks again!”

Share Your Vision Screening Numbers

If you conducted vision screenings this year, please remember to share your vision screening numbers with Prevent Blindness Wisconsin. We love knowing which schools and childcare centers have screening programs!

– Nurse Annual Statistical Request Form

– Head Start Annual Statistical Request Form

For any questions regarding vision screening numbers, please contact Shelby at [email protected].

Thank you, St. Lucy

Prevent Blindness Wisconsin spent a morning at St. Lucy Catholic Parish School in Racine vision screening children in 3K, 4K, and 5K. It was a great time working with Peggy, St. Lucy’s staff, and the students. As a thank you for receiving a certified vision screening, students created a wonderful card that would make any vision screener proud. We can’t wait to visit St. Lucy again soon!

If you would like to join our dedicated team of volunteers in Racine County, please contact [email protected] or call (414)765-6257.

Upcoming Certified Children’s Vision Screener Training

Sign up for one of our upcoming Children’s Vision Screener Trainings. If you have questions or if you would like to schedule a training, please contact Shelby at [email protected].

Friday, March 8, 2019

Waunakee Lions Certified Children’s Vision Screener & Plusoptix Training

3:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Marriott Conference Center

1313 John Q Hammons Drive

Middleton, WI 53562

Wednesday, March 27, 2019

NWTC Children’s Vision Screener Training

11:00 AM – 12:30 PM

Northeastern Wisconsin Technical College

1601 University Drive

Marinette, WI 54143

Friday, March 15, 2019

27-E2 Lions Certified Vision Screener Training & SPOT

4:30 PM – 7:30 PM

The Lismore Hotel

333 Gibson Street

Eau Claire, WI 54701

Wednesday, April 3, 2019

Certified Children’s Vision Screener Training – Montello

10:00 AM – 1:00 PM

Health & Human Services – Room 106

428 Underwood Ave

Montello, WI 53949

Tuesday, March 19, 2019

Certified Children’s Vision Screener Training & SPOT – Birnamwood

10:00 AM – 1:00 PM

Chet & Emil’s Bar and Ballroom

388 Main Street

Birnamwood, WI 54414

Friday, April 12, 2019

27-C2 Lions Convention- Certified Vision Screener Training

10:00 AM – 3:00 PM

Lake of the Torches Resort

510 Old Abe Road

Lac du Flambeau, WI 54538

Milwaukee Private School Volunteer Group-Spring into Screening

Relying on a dedicated group of only 15 certified volunteer vision screeners, the Milwaukee Private Schools Volunteer Vision Screening group has already made healthy vision possible for children at eight Milwaukee private schools this year! The Milwaukee Private Schools program ensures children enrolled at private schools that cannot manage vision screening on their own have access to Prevent Blindness Wisconsin’s sight-saving services. With several more schools scheduled to receive vision screenings this spring, the dedicated service of these volunteers will make healthy vision possible for more than 1,000 children this year. “It’s a win-win-win situation!” says Diane Meredith, School Social worker at Bruce Guadalupe Community School which is served by the program. While the program is already making an incredible impact in the lives of the children served, there are more than 100 private schools in the greater Milwaukee area that are not currently vision screening; imagine how many of those schools we could reach with your help!

To learn about volunteering with Prevent Blindness Wisconsin please contact April Thaney at [email protected] or register for one of the upcoming Children’s Vision Screening Training sessions today!

Janesville School District Nurses Are Certified to Save Sight

Prevent Blindness Wisconsin provided a Certified Children’s Vision Screener training to nurses in the Janesville School District, thanks to funding through the Community Foundation of Southern Wisconsin- Hausner Fund. “After the training, I feel very comfortable doing vision screenings. I love having an evidence-based method for screening,” said district nurse Kristi Coy. If you would like to become a certified vision screener, please register for one of our u pcoming trainings or contact Shelby at [email protected].

Certified Vision Screenings Help Head Start Have Healthy Vision

Staff at Acelero Head Start in Racine received a Certified Children’s Vision Screener training thanks to funding from the Racine Community Foundation. Staff learned about the updated 18 Vision Development Milestones From Birth to Baby’s First Birthday for children in Early Head Start. To schedule a training for your Head Start, please contact Shelby at [email protected].

27 A2 Lions Convention Hosts Screening Certification

Thank you to the 12 Lions and Lioness in the 27 A2 District who attended the Certified Children’s Vision Screening training. Attendees practiced using the PlusOptix vision screening device for children ages 3-5 and the Snellen/Sloan wall chart for children ages 6 and older. Prevent Blindness Wisconsin has valued our partnership with the Wisconsin Lions Foundation for more than 20 years. If your Lions Club would like to schedule a training, please contact Shelby at [email protected].

Lasting Legacies

Prevent Blindness Wisconsin received a lasting legacy of $76,069 from the Josephine A. Schmidt Living Trust. Ms. Schmidt’s generosity will live on by enhancing Prevent Blindness Wisconsin’s Endowment Fund. To learn more about making a planned gift, contact Julie at 414-765-0657 or [email protected].

Veterans Affairs Stand Down

This time of year puts an extra sparkle into our staff’s eyes because every February and September, the Clement J. Zablocki Veterans Affairs Medical Center hosts the VA Stand Down. The VA Stand Downs are initiated as an effort to help veterans beat homelessness and addictive habits by giving them a ‘hand-up’ in life, rather than a ‘handout.’ Our team conducted adult vision screenings and vision health education at the event, screening 24 adults and referring 22 on to further care.

Thank you to the Zablocki VA for your hard work and dedication on this event and for inviting Prevent Blindness Wisconsin. We would also like to thank all the veterans who attended the event, who have previously served, and those currently serving our country; we are forever grateful.

Who has Healthy Eyes?

Rock and Menominee County do! The Healthy Eyes Adult Educational Program experienced great turnout since the start of the year. 15 healthcare professionals from Rock County ADRC along with four healthcare professionals from the Wolf River Region ADRC will be participating in the Healthy Eyes program.

As adults age, their risk for vision-related concerns increases. Healthy Eyes serves as an educational outlet that educates healthcare professionals and facilities who service at-risk adults for vision concerns, creating vision health advocates throughout their communities. We would like to thank Rock County and the Wolf River Region ADRC for graciously hosting us and for your wonderful participation and eagerness to help those in your community. We would also like to thank Prevent Blindness and Regeneron for the funding for this program; we are extremely grateful to provide this service to at-risk adults.

Low Vision Awareness: Learning from the Experts

In collaboration with February’s Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) and Low Vision Awareness Month, we are excited to share Dr. Judy E. Kim from Froedtert and the Medical College of Wisconsin’s Eye Institute conducted an interview with the Milwaukee Courier and Look to Your Future on the importance of early detection and prevention of AMD and other common adult vision concerns. Dr. Kim explains that adults should be proactive when it comes to their vision health, seeking regular vision care and scheduling an appointment with their eye doctor if they notice any changes in their vision. She emphasizes how our actions and behaviors today can affect our vision health tomorrow and into the future.

We are very excited and grateful to have such a prominent figure in our community educating Milwaukee adults on their vision health. This opportunity was presented to our team with funding from Regeneron and Prevent Blindness. We would like to thank Regeneron and Prevent Blindness for this amazing opportunity and to Dr. Kim, the Milwaukee Courier and Look to Your Future for putting together such a great piece. Early detection is key! Read the full article here.

March is Workplace Eye Wellness Month

No matter your profession, making sure your eyes are safe in your work environment is important. More than 2,000 people suffer every day from a work-related eye injury. 90% of eye injuries in the work place are preventable by wearing protective eye wear specific for your work environment. Don’t be a part of the 2,000; protect your vision health using the tips below.

Appropriate eye protection depends on the type of activity being done, the work environment, and the amount of risk posed towards your vision.

To protect against flying debris (metal, glass, dust) and sparks, safety glasses with side shields should be worn.

To protect against chemicals and infectious agents, safety goggles with side shields should be worn. Ensure your safety goggles fit snug, preventing any fluid from getting in or around the eye.

To protect your vision from hazardous radiation (welding, sparks, UV- rays, lasers) face shields, safety goggles, safety glasses, or a helmet should be worn.

Keep it 20/20/20 to prevent digital eye strain

More than 83% of Americans use digital devices for more than two hours a day. If you work in an office setting, or use digital devices for work, keep this tip in mind…

This technique allows eye muscles needed for distance vision to be used as well as near vision muscles. Practicing this technique may also help prevent the onset of myopia, a vision problem in which objects farther in the distance appear blurry, but objects up close appear clear.

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

Thank you!