Second ‘Sight Day’ Means More Free Eye Checks and Glasses for Philadelphia Children
(Philadelphia, PA) February 12, 2010 – Due to the overwhelming numbers of parents and children who participated in November’s ‘Give Kids Sight Day’, Public Citizens for Children and Youth is holding a second day of free eye checks at Wills Eye Institute (9th and Walnut Streets) on Saturday, February 13th 8:00am – 11:30am. (The day should end by 4:00pm.) Pennsylvania law requires that all school children be given an annual vision screening in school. At 82 percent compliance, the School District of Philadelphia does an admirable job of making sure its students are checked. Yet, during the 2007-08 school year, 63 percent (13,834) of the students who failed their vision screening did not receive a follow-up eye exam with a doctor. To help the general public become more aware of children’s vision awareness, last fall PCCY and Eagles Youth Partnership teamed up with Wills Eye institute and The Eye Institute for ‘Give Kids Sight Day’ on November 21st. Between the two institutions, 1,200 Philadelphia children received free eye checks.
Nearly 700 kids received a screening, exam and/or glasses during the ten-hour event at Wills. However, by the end of the day 351 families could not complete the process and were left waiting in line for screenings (266), or final diagnosis/refraction following their preliminary eye check (85). The families’ contact information was taken and a second ‘Sight Day’ was soon scheduled and the parents notified.
Once again a team of eye doctors will be volunteering at Wills, performing eye checks and exams while both Eagles Eye Mobiles will be stationed at the front entrance to fit children for their glasses. Spanish and Mandarin Chinese translators will be on hand to assist with registration while face painters, clowns, Eagles cheerleaders and the Eagles Storybook Man keep the families entertained as the children wait for their eye checks. Plus, an Eagles player or two might surprise the kids by stopping by Wills.
The “overflow day” promises to be as well attended as last fall’s ‘Sight Day’, with 70 percent of parents making appointments to bring their children back to Wills. “The response continues to demonstrate the great need for kids to have good eye care and for parents to know where to turn when they need to get their eyes checked,” says Colleen McCauley, PCCY’s Health Director, noting that bad and disconnected phone numbers kept the percentage of returning children from being be even higher. “The parents are committed and invested in the health of their kids’ eyes.”