The Lions Clubs provide a FREE vision and hearing screening program for pre-school children ages 3 and 4 years of age intended to identify early signs of
| Hyperopia (farsightedness) | Myopia (nearsightedness) | Strabismus (eye misalignment) |
| Astigmatism (blurred vision) | Anisometropia (unequal refractive power) | Anisocoria (unequal pupil size) |
These conditions have the potential to cause poor vision in one or both eyes and may have serious impact on a child’s ability to learn. However, if caught early enough, they can frequently be corrected. If undetected, they may eventually lead to permanent loss of vision and will directly impact their ability to learn.
We use a special digital camera / computer system (WelchAllyn SPOT) that in a few seconds can measure both eyes and calculate the results of a series of tests from a distance of 3 feet from the child without ever touching the child or using any eye drops. We work with the Southwest Florida Lions Clubs. Those kids showing possible problems are referred to an eye care professional for a complete exam.
We also screen the children for possible hearing loss using an audiometer or a WelchAllyn Otoacoustic Emissions (OAE) screener. The audiometer is a simple screening where the child is asked to respond to sounds at different frequencies in one ear at a time.
We use a special digital camera / computer system (WelchAllyn SPOT) that in a few seconds can measure both eyes and calculate the results of a series of tests from a distance of 3 feet from the child without ever touching the child or using any eye drops. We work with the Southwest Florida Lions Clubs and the Lee County Head Start Program. Those kids showing possible problems are referred to an eye care professional for a complete exam. Children with hearing concerns are referred to their pediatrician for follow-up. Failure to detect congenital or acquired hearing loss in children may result in lifelong deficits in speech and language acquisition, poor academic performance, personal-social maladjustments, and emotional difficulties.
This is an extremely important program that has the potential to change the course of a child's life.
It is our honor to provide Lions Club vision and hearing screenings for preschoolers in Southwest Florida
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