Dealing with poor eyesight can be a challenge for many kids without health insurance. Not realizing they have bad vision can lead to frustration and difficulties at school.
A number of community partners are making sure all uninsured and underinsured children in the Delaware Valley can receive free eye screenings and, if needed, two free pairs of eyeglasses at Give Kids Sight Day on April 12 at Wills Eye Hospital in Philadelphia.
All children, 18 and younger, will be examined on a first-come, first-served basis from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. No insurance or appointments are necessary.
Public Citizens for Children and Youth (PCCY), Wills Eye Hospital, Eagles Youth Partnership, Thomas Jefferson University, Visionworks and the First Hospital Foundation are teaming up for the fifth annual event. Last year, in just more than nine hours, 1,392 children of all ages had their eyes checked during the free event.
“Give Kids Sight Day is so important because it gives parents an opportunity to get their child’s vision examined and receive a pair of glasses at no cost to them,” said Elizabeth Wira, a registered nurse with the Pennsauken School District. “This is so important because children need to see properly in order to learn to their full potential.”
As a school nurse for 23 years, Wira said she has seen children struggle in school because of poor eyesight many times. She said once kids find out they need glasses, they begin to thrive.
“Children are happy when they realize how well they can see with their glasses,” Wira said. “Give Kids Sight Day is a wonderful opportunity for children to get their vision examined and receive a free pair of glasses, if needed. I have had parents tell me what a great opportunity this has been for their children and for them also.”
Vision difficulties are one of the most common child health problems in the United States and the most prevalent handicapping condition in childhood. Problems with children’s eyesight can start at an early age and can affect a child’s ability to learn, athletic performance and even self-esteem. Vision problems are often misdiagnosed as behavior problems or learning disabilities.
“We know because of budget cuts, many schools in our area have had to lay off nurses, making it harder for children to have their eyes properly checked at school,” said Colleen McCauley, health director for PCCY. “At Give Kids Sight Day, hundreds of volunteers and health professionals will be on hand to give our children the proper care they deserve, free of charge.”
Children who have failed an eye screening at school or have not had their eyes examined in the last year are strongly urged to attend.
“This is the first time the event has been expanded to cover the four counties bordering Philadelphia,” McCauley said. “No child will be turned away.”
McCauley said any child who is diagnosed with a vision problem that cannot be corrected by glasses will be invited back to Wills to meet with a specialist.
“There will be a cadre of folks at Give Kids Sight Day to help parents sign up for health insurance,” McCauley said. “We’re here to make it easier for parents to get their kids the eye care they need. It’s a swift process.”
Registration for this free event will take place at the Hamilton Building at Thomas Jefferson University, at 10th and Locust streets in Philadelphia. Registration, screening and selecting glasses can take several hours. Families are encouraged to plan ahead for food, transportation and parking. While waiting for eye care, families will be invited to participate in a health fair featuring blood pressure screenings and assistance with applying for health insurance. Families traveling via PATCO should get off at the 9th-10th and Locust streets stop.
Interpreters in Spanish, Mandarin, Vietnamese and several other languages will also be on hand to assist families.
For information, call 215-563-5848, Ext. 21 or visit www.childrenfirstpa.org/sightday.
TheNJWire.Com – April 2, 2014 – Read article online