Photo: Lions Club holds vision screening at Jefferson Christian Academy
Lions Joe Straub (from left), Barbara Straub, Al Katz, Betty Herbert, Charlie Herbert and Lewis Haldren recently provided vision screening for children at Jefferson Christian Academy in Ripplemead. Photo courtesy of Betty Herbert
Beautiful, bright shining faces awaited Rich Creek-Giles Breakfast Branch Lions when they arrived at Jefferson Christian Academy in Ripplemead on Friday morning, Nov. 30. The club screened 54 students ranging in age from pre-school/day care through high school in the two hours they were on site. The youngest children screened were just 3 years old.
“One of the advantages of having the SPOT screening for PediaVision is that we’re able to accurately screen for vision problems in some children who can’t read the eye charts or tell us what direction an arrow points, as well as children who, for whatever reason, are non-verbal or unable to communicate with us,” said club spokeswoman Betty Herbert.
“This infra-red camera tells us so much more than the units we’ve used in the past. In only seconds we get a printout that shows exactly what the unit sees. The printout goes to the child’s parents so that their eye care professional can have access to what was seen.”
Blacksburg Breakfast Lions President Lion Joseph Straub, who was on-site to observe the SPOT unit in use, said “this unit has so much potential for Lions to be able to screen children that we have so far been unable to screen. It will enable Lions everywhere to really make a difference in many children’s lives.” SPOT for PediaVision is currently being used in emergency rooms and doctors’ offices across the country.
Today, there are only two SPOT units available to Lions in District 24E, which includes more than 35 clubs in the New River and Roanoke valleys, and Floyd, Bedford and Franklin counties. The cost of the units has made the purchase of more machines prohibitive.
Several clubs, including Rich Creek, Rich Creek-Giles Breakfast, Dublin and Blacksburg Breakfast, plan to apply in early 2013 for matching grants that will make it possible for these clubs to purchase SPOT units to retain in their clubs for use in their respective counties.
“Everyone in these clubs is excited about the possibility of having access to SPOT units without waiting in line for one to be available,” said Rich Creek-Giles Breakfast Lions club coordinator Charlie Herbert.
Church schools, preschools, day care facilities, elementary and secondary schools interested in having the SPOT for PediaVision units in their schools should contact Lion Charlie Herbert at 921-1221 or 505-7444 for information about scheduling a vision screening.
Rich Creek-Giles Breakfast Branch Lions Club meets the third Thursday of each month at 7 a.m. at Pembroke Methodist Church. For information about becoming a part of RC-Giles Breakfast Branch Lions Club or about upcoming events, call 921-1221.
– Submitted by Betty Herbert
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