Monday, June 29, 2015
St Joseph's Health Care London
St. Joseph’s Begins Free Vision Screening for Little Londoners
As many as 10 per cent of pre-schoolers don’t see clearly. A scary statistic considering vision plays a critical role in how a child learns. Beginning July 6, a new, London-wide screening program of St. Joseph’s Ivey Eye Institute is taking aim at the issue in hope to detect problems early.
Amblyopia, known generally as “lazy eye,” is the leading cause of decreased vision among children. Resulting from abnormal visual development in infancy and early childhood, it’s fairly easy to treat early in life but becomes difficult to treat after the age of six—vision may never recover to its full potential.
“Early detection is key with amblyopia,” says Dr. Inas Makar, a pediatric ophthalmologist at Ivey Eye Institute. “The decrease in vision results when one or both eyes send a blurry image to the brain. The brain then learns to only see blurry with that eye, even when glasses are used later in life. Without early detection and treatment, amblyopia may result in permanent vision impairment.”
An innovative program called Ivey Special Eye Exam (iSee) Vision Screening will be screening children between the ages of two and 3½ for free at Childreach - 265 Maitland Street, Mondays, 12:30 pm - 3 pm and Wednesdays 9:30 am - 12:00 pm (excluding statutory holidays). In addition iSee will be attending some daycare centres across the city.
The goal of the research-based program is to screen 5000 children in London over the next three years. “According to statistics, 5000 is about half of London’s population of children in this age range,” says program coordinator Afua Oteng-Amoako. “It’s a lofty goal but it’s an important one. Research states, 80 per cent of what a child learns in the first 12 years is through what they see. So if we can catch them before they go to school, children will have fewer learning difficulties.”
The screening process takes only a few seconds and is as easy as taking a picture. Using special automated digital cameras, children have a “photo” taken. The camera makes sounds to get the child’s attention. No eye drops or puffs of air are necessary. The camera automatically detects issues or concerns requiring further testing by an eye care professional.
“iSee will provide an immediate referral report if a risk factor for amblyopia is detected,” says Dr. Makar. “Parents and guardians receive the report and instructions to guide them on next steps.”
Parents and guardians can help identify issues by watching children for the following signs that may indicate a vision problem:
- Sitting close to the TV
- Holding a book too close
- Squinting
- Tilting their head
- Frequently rubbing eyes
- Has a short attention span for the child’s age
- Has an eye that turns in or out
- Is sensitive to light
- Has difficulty with eye-hand-body coordination when playing ball
- Avoids coloring activities, puzzles and other detailed activities
iSee is a clinical and research-based program of St. Joseph’s Ivey Eye Institute made possible by donations to St. Joseph’s Heath Care Foundation. London Central Lions Club provides philanthropic and volunteer support for this important community program.
In London, free vision screening is available for children between the ages of 2 and 3½. Contact the iSee program at 519 646-6000 ext 65101 or email iseevision@sjhc.london.on.ca. For more information, including screening locations and times, visit iseevision.ca.
Media Contact:
Amanda Jackman
Communication Consultant
519-646-6100 ext 47155
Amanda.jackman@sjhc.london.on.ca
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