Our prevention services help children start school free from a critical barrier to school readiness and promote eye health, eye safety, and inclusion of people with visual impairments throughout our communities.
Vision Screenings for Pre-K Children
- Our free vision screenings for pre-kindergarten children – ages 0-6 – are conducted with an advanced hand-held Spot Vision Screener that is highly accurate in the determination of conditions such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatisms, strabismus, and amblyopia.
- Our Focused Futures program seeks to ensure that at least 2,500 children ages 0-6 that we screen receive eye exams and glasses from 2022 to 2030. Sights for Hope’s partners connect qualifying families with free eye care services from participating professionals.
- The Spot Vision Screener works on children as young as 6 months and is especially effective for use with children who are on the autism spectrum, have other physical challenges, or have language difficulties.
- Families of children referred for care receive printed screening results to share with an eye care professional.
- We screen 5,000 or more children ages 0-6 in a year, and up to 15% of these children are found to have a visual impairment of some degree.
- Our two most senior Prevention Specialists are certified as children’s vision screeners from the national Prevent Blindness program. Our third Prevention Specialist has a Doctor of Optometry degree from the Southern California College of Optometry.
- More than 85% of our screening events in a typical year are held at preschools, at daycare centers, and during kindergarten registrations or orientations. Screenings for school-aged children also are available upon request.
- Our C. Well Bunny Goes to School education program also can be presented at screening events.
Community Education Programs
- Our educational programs for preschool children, students, adults, and professionals promote eye health, eye safety, and inclusion of people with visual impairments.
- Our C. Well Bunny Goes to School presentation introduces preschoolers to basic concepts about eye health and safety. During some of his adventures, C. Well is joined by friends Dr. Optical and Miss Illusion.
- Our Low Vision Road Show shows audiences the specialized services that are available to people with visual impairments.
- Our Eyes in the Library presentation encourages students to discover the similarities and differences between human and animal eyes.
- Our Doing Things Differently presentation helps professionals interact effectively in their workplaces with patients, customers, and clients with visual impairments.
- Customized presentations are available on a limited basis.
Contact for Information
Jennifer Pandolfo, 570.992.7787, Ext. 222