The Vision Resource Center of Berks County is expanding its complimentary vision screening efforts as families prepare for the start of a new school year, offering early detection services for children ages 6 months to 6 years.
The screenings are designed to identify potential vision problems in children who may be too young to recognize or communicate that they are having difficulty seeing. In previous years, screenings conducted at 65 locations throughout the county have detected early signs of conditions ranging from cataracts to neuroblastoma, according to the organization, leading families to seek additional medical evaluation.
The Vision Resource Center partners with preschools, daycare centers and other organizations to provide the screenings on a first-come, first-served basis. The organization is also encouraging childhood educators, religious leaders and youth program coordinators to contact the center about bringing the service to their locations.
“Preschool teachers and childcare staff are incredibly in tune with their students. They are often the first to notice when a child resists paper and pencil table work, or gets bored and restless during storytime because they can’t see the book from the back of the rug,” said Lori Peters, president of the Vision Resource Center of Berks County.
“Educators frequently tell us they knew something was wrong, but just couldn’t pinpoint what it was. Our free vision screenings provide that concrete answer, turning what looked like a behavioral or attention issue into a clear, correctable path forward before the child even enters kindergarten.”
Screenings are conducted using a Welch Allyn Spot Vision Screener, a handheld device that takes an image of a child’s eyes from approximately three feet away. The non-invasive screening does not require children to speak or respond to instructions.
Host locations must provide a room with at least five feet of clearance, access to electrical outlets and lighting that can be dimmed. A parent or guardian must also provide a permission slip before a child can participate.
Following each screening, staff members print a vision screening result form. When a child is identified as needing additional evaluation, the parent or guardian receives a notification packet that includes information about local pediatric optometrists and ophthalmologists as well as paperwork for the child’s initial appointment.
The Vision Resource Center returns to participating locations annually following the initial screening.
Founded by the Reading Lions Club in 1929, the Vision Resource Center of Berks County provides support, rehabilitation and advocacy services for people with vision loss and their caregivers. Its services also include support programs, social events, transportation, community education and early detection screenings.
Organizations interested in scheduling a free screening can contact Vision Resource Center caseworker Lori Johnston at ljohnston@vrcberks.org or 610-375-8407, ext. 114. More information is available at vrcberks.org.
