As members of Focus First Philly, a student-run group at Penn, we help bring free vision care to undeserved children in Philadelphia. Since many of the children we screen don't receive any other vision care, it's really rewarding to play an active role in catching early vision problems before they become a larger issue.
We are affiliated with Salus University's initiative, Looking Out For Kids (LOFK), to provide volunteers for their major screening events. At these events (multiple times a semester), students get the opportunity to learn and perform visual acuity, color and stereo testing, and SPOT screening under the direction of an OD or a resident with LOFK's mobile eye clinic. Anyone can sign up and training will be done on-site at these events.
(We are also still in the process of re-establishing Penn's connection with the national Focus First program. This is a vision screening initiative targeting pre-school aged children in underserved daycares and head starts. Any updates will be sent to everyone on our mailing list!)
Early screening is important because many families do not understand the importance of eye care for young children and the inability of kids to recognize their own vision problems. Poor vision affects tens of thousands of kids, handicapping them from doing well academically, and many conditions can only be treated if identified at a young age. However, families in underserved communities often have limited knowledge of and access to screenings, as well as follow-up care.