News

Prevent Blindness Trains Volunteers

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For more information:

Whitney Anderson

Prevent Blindness

E-mail: [email protected]

Phone: (800) 301-2020 ext. 105

                                                                  
                                                  Prevent Blindness Trains Vision Screening Volunteers

COLUMBUS, OH (Aug. 11, 2017) – The Ohio Affiliate of Prevent Blindness held a vision screening training on Aug. 10 in New Philadelphia. Volunteers were trained and certified to conduct preschool vision screenings that help detect early vision problems. Screenings are an effective way to refer individuals that need professional care to an eye doctor for a comprehensive eye exam.

 

State Representative Al Landis (R-Dover) greeted volunteers as they were trained and certified as vision screeners. The Prevent Blindness Preschool Vision Screening program provides volunteers with the proper tools to help screen for early detection of eye problems.

Vision problems affect one in four school-age children and one in twenty preschoolers. Eighty percent of what a child learns is visual – good vision is critical to learning. Undetected vision problems can affect how well a child performs in the classroom. An estimated 47,300 Ohio preschool children (1 in 20) have a vision disorder including amblyopia (lazy eye) and strabismus (crossed eyes) that can lead to loss of vision. 

The training was supported by the Save Our Sight Fund which is administered by the Ohio Department of Health and funded by $1 donations at the time of vehicle registration to support eye health and safety programs for kids. For more information call (800) 301-2020 or visit www.pbohio.org.

“Many eye problems in children can be effectively treated and corrected if diagnosed early”, said Sherry Williams, President & CEO of The Ohio Affiliate of Prevent Blindness.  Prevent Blindness recommends a continuum of eye care for children to include both vision screening and comprehensive eye examinations. All children, even those with no signs of trouble, should have their eyes checked at regular intervals.

To find out more information about vision screening or find local listing of vision screening training, visit http://ohio.preventblindness.org/vision-screening-0.

About Prevent Blindness 

Founded in 1908, Prevent Blindness is the nation’s leading volunteer eye health and safety organization dedicated to fighting blindness and saving sight. The Ohio Affiliate of Prevent Blindness is Ohio’s leading volunteer nonprofit public health organization dedicated to preventing blindness and preserving sight. We serve all 88 Ohio counties, providing direct services to more than 800,000 Ohioans annually and educating millions of consumers about what they can do to protect and preserve their precious gift of sight. For more information or to make a contribution, call 800-301-2020.  Or, visit us on the web at www.pbohio.org or facebook.com/pbohio.

 
                                                

                                     State Representative Al Landis (R-Dover) greeted preschool vision screeners
                                     trained by the Ohio Affiliate of Prevent Blindness in New Philadelphia on Aug. 10.