TANEY COUNTY, Mo. — Susan Thibeault Linton of the Branson-Hollister Lions Club and Bob Crump of the Seymour Lions Club have joined forces to bring the Missouri KidSight program to area schools that previously lacked access to the screenings because of a shortage of trained volunteers.
On October 6, the volunteers visited Mark Twain School in Rueter, Missouri, screening 56 children and identifying four who were referred for additional eye care. The school serves students from prekindergarten through eighth grade.
Two days later, on October 8, the team visited Bradleyville School, which serves students from prekindergarten through 12th grade. Of the 146 children screened, four were referred for further examination.
In just two days, 202 children received free vision screenings, with eight referred for follow-up care.
The screenings use a specialized device called a Spot Vision Screener, which takes a picture of a child’s eyes and analyzes the results for signs of potential vision problems. The process takes less than a minute and does not require children to read an eye chart.
The technology screens for risk factors associated with conditions such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism and eye misalignment. Children whose results indicate a possible problem are referred for a comprehensive examination by an eye care professional.
Early detection is especially important because young children may not recognize or communicate that they are having difficulty seeing. Undetected vision problems can affect a child’s ability to read, participate in classroom activities and develop essential learning skills. Some conditions can also lead to permanent vision loss if left untreated.
KidSight’s involvement does not end when a child is referred. The organization follows up with families to help connect them with eye care providers and resources. Financial assistance may also be available for families who need help obtaining eye examinations or prescription glasses.
The local screenings come as KidSight celebrates a major milestone. Founded in 1995, the Missouri nonprofit announced in September that it had screened more than one million children statewide through its network of staff, volunteers and community partners, including Lions Clubs.
For Linton and Crump, expanding the program into underserved Taney County schools represents another opportunity to identify vision concerns while children are young enough to benefit from early treatment.
Schools interested in scheduling a free vision screening can contact KidSight through its website at kid-sight.org or by calling 855-454-3744.
