Lions Club brings advanced screening to Delta Elementary

Many of us probably remember standing in front of the Snellen eye chart for a vision check. We were told to cover one eye and then the other while attempting to read letters from 20 feet away. The letters decreased in size as we moved down the chart, becoming barely readable even for those with 20/20 vision.

Today, however, an initial vision screening can be completed in a matter of seconds. The familiar eye chart has been replaced by a handheld Plusoptix screener, which closely resembles an oversized gaming controller.

The Delta Area Lions Club brought the $5,000 device to Delta Elementary School on Friday, where members screened the vision of more than 200 students. The local Lions Club purchased the screener with help from a $2,500 grant from Boeing and a matching $2,500 grant from Davidson Technologies.

“The Plusoptix shoots an infrared laser into the eye and measures the eye’s refraction,” explained Lions member Dana Mock. “This tells us whether the vision is 20/20, 20/25 or whatever the reading may be. If the results are outside the acceptable range, we give the referral forms to the school nurse, who then gives them to the parents. The parents can then have their child’s vision checked by a professional. The Plusoptix can actually detect vision disorders in children as young as five months.”

Although the Plusoptix is more accurate than the traditional Snellen eye chart, Mock noted that it is not as precise as the equipment used in a doctor’s office.

Mock also explained that poor eyesight can sometimes contribute to behavioral and learning difficulties.

“A young student who has grown up with less-than-perfect eyesight may not realize that it is the reason he or she cannot read the board,” Mock said. “If they cannot read the board, they may lose interest. That can lead to behavioral issues and learning problems.”

Lions Clubs International began focusing on eye care after Helen Keller challenged the organization to become “Knights of the Blind,” helping prevent blindness and address vision problems around the world.

Since accepting that challenge, Lions International has worked with global initiatives such as SightFirst, as well as local and national organizations.

Vision screening has been part of elementary school programs nationwide for many years. In 2014, Lions officially adopted Lions KidSight, a vision-screening program focused on children under age 6. The program is based on the understanding that the sooner a vision problem is identified and treated, the greater the possibility of correcting it.

Since its inception, Lions KidSight has benefited hundreds of thousands of elementary-age and younger children – a program that began with a challenge from the woman who pioneered and championed eye care, Helen Keller.

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