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Experts estimate that nearly 25% of school-age children have vision problems. Another study says 11.5% of teenagers have untreated eye conditions. A volunteer group is focusing on those problems by providing free vision screenings and eyeglasses for the uninsured. Reed Galin reports. |
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SCRIPT:
(Locator: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)
(Metal detector beeps)
Safety is critical at Manchester Elementary in Pittsburgh. After three recent shootings in this neighborhood, kids can’t even enjoy their playground until the police department sweeps the area for guns.
Eye Exam: “Yeah, I like this one.”
Despite these challenges, students can see a
brighter future.
Eye Exam: “Even better? Worse? Or about the same? Better.”
Amy Cross has been trying to learn with blurry vision.
Amy Cross, 8th Grader: “Every time I get glasses, I usually break them. And my mom never takes me to get them fixed.”
Cross and her classmates are receiving free eye exams and glasses thanks to five United Methodist churches who founded a program called Northside Ministries. Members support the non-profit Mission Vision to help those who can’t afford screenings.
Jamon West, 3rd grader: “Now I can see better, and I can learn better.”
Susan Henault, Mission Vision:
“Most of these kids don’t have any glasses, even if they used to have them. They’re broken, or… Five of the students I spoke to today said, ‘When I’m at home, I use my mom’s glasses and they really help.’”
Mission Vision has been distributing free glasses in Ghana, Africa for 12 years but the partnership with Northside Ministries brought their work closer to home.
The Rev. Larry Homitsky, Northside Ministries:
“Whenever we were able to meet with the principal here at Manchester
Elementary School, we asked one question, just one question, ‘What do
you need?’
Susan Henault: “The United Methodist Church, they know where the needs are and they have simply plugged us in and it has been a wonderful partnership.”
School Nurse: “Terron and Elizabeth.”
That partnership brought school nurse Juanita Hogan a solution she never expected.
Juanita Hogan, Nurse Practitioner: “You’re going to provide free eyeglasses to all my children who failed their vision? The kids get to select their frames, so there’s a high probability they’ll take ownership and wear the glasses. It’s fabulous.”
TAG:
Mission Vision has helped hundreds of adults and children receive eyeglasses. The group plans to continue conducting three free eye clinics each month in western Pennsylvania. For more information, to donate glasses or to volunteer, please visit www.mission-vision.org or call 724-772-5640.
Also, see: Eye clinics bring lives into focus in Pittsburgh
Posted: May 20, 2009