An initiative led by the Lions Club of Mount Gambier continues to help identify previously undetected vision problems in local children.
The latest school visited by the children’s vision screening team was Mulga Street Primary where 20 of the 104 students tested received referrals to optometrists for follow up investigations.
“We have had lots of feedback from parents who are thrilled with the results once children have gone to the optometrist and been prescribed glasses,” said Jill Austin who co-ordinates the program for the Lions Club.
“The change it’s made in children’s lives has been wonderful.”
Ms Austin said she knows of one local example where a boy’s life has been turned around thanks to the program.
“This little boy is a lovely child who got on really well with all the other children in school but was very disruptive in class,” she said.
“He tested poorly, went off to the optometrists and got glasses.
“Now that his vision problem has been addressed, suddenly he loves school, he loves learning and has really gone ahead – a totally different child, which is wonderful to see,.”
Ms Austin said that up to 80% of a child’s learning happens through their eyes.
Once detected, most eye problems in children can be easily corrected.
“On average, one in five children screened, need eye care – and we are well and truly seeing that here,” she said.
The program is run as part of a Lions Eye Health Program Australia national project that aims to reduce the incidence and impact of avoidable vision loss.
Accredited volunteers use special cameras, charts and other tools to check for potential problems with distance vision, focus, depth perception, colour vision and other eye issues.
The screeners undergo a three-stage training process and have working with children clearance.
“When we first visit a school we tend to screen all of the students from Reception through to Year 6,” Ms Austin said.
“Then each year we will go back and do Reception, Year 6 and new students.
“The schools we have been to have been very co-operative and well organised.
“It’s been a real pleasure to do this job.”
The club is keen to hear from more schools interested in taking part in the program, which is provided free of charge.
Ms Austin was responsible for the Lions Club of Mount Gambier adopting the children’s vision screening program and has been awarded a special Roley McAtee OAM Vision Award for her work.
