Wheeling Lions Donate Vision Scanner To Help Parochial School Students
Wheeling Lions bring high-tech eye screenings to parochial schools
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WHEELING -- A device that can check the vision of an entire classroom of the youngest school students in just minutes now will be used in Ohio County's parochial schools courtesy of the Wheeling Lions Club.
Known as an autorefractor, the breadbox-size device can scan an entire classroom in minutes, checking young eyes for common vision problems such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, lazy eye, astigmatism or blurry vision.
Students will not be asked to read letters or shapes from a chart they may not recognize. Instead, the device uses infrared light to measure how light reflects off the retina and the eye's optical structure as it is moved throughout a classroom.
The school nurse will perform the screening. When the scanner detects an abnormality in a student's vision, the student's family is notified.
The Lions donated a vision scanner for use in parochial schools during a visit to Corpus Christi School on Monday.
"Ohio County Schools has had vision screeners supplied by the Wheeling Lions for quite a few years," said Wheeling Lions Club Secretary Andy Garber, who also serves on the Ohio County Board of Education. "But the parochial schools did not have one.
"When I found this out, I suggested to the Lions that maybe we should purchase a screener for the parochial schools to use. This will enable those kids to have access to this."
Garber added that if a screening determines a student's vision is below standard, families still should seek care even if they cannot afford an optometrist appointment or glasses. The Lions assist those who qualify for eye care assistance and refer children to an optometrist.
Vince Gallagher, president of the Wheeling Lions Club, said optometrists at the vision center at Boscov's currently work with the Lions to provide free services to those who qualify.
He recalled that when the Lions began purchasing vision scanners for Ohio County Schools, the initial devices cost about $14,000 each. Prices have since dropped by half to about $7,000.
The program started years ago when the Wheeling Lions had several school nurses among its members, Gallagher explained. They suggested the organization look into providing vision screenings for younger students.
But with the initial $14,000 cost, it took time to purchase eight vision scanners for elementary schools in Ohio County, he said.
"They are now all taken care of, and we are reaching out to the parochial schools," Gallagher said. "We've had fundraisers that have allowed us to continue the program.
"And if something needs to be replaced, we will have the money to do that in the future."
Erin McFarland, coordinator of the school-based health care program at local parochial schools in Wheeling and Weirton, said students at all parochial elementary schools in those communities will be served by the vision scanner.
School nurse Monica Murray said nurses will be able to print out vision results so students can take them home to show their families or later bring them to an optometrist visit. The results will show where vision problems may exist.
"The speed of this is amazing," she said. "What would have taken two days to do an entire class now takes just 15 minutes.
"And it's a little more in-depth than what they would get at their pediatrician. This is a much more accurate result. Before, children couldn't always identify letters or identify shapes. This is much better and of a much better quality."
Jennifer Hornyak, superintendent of Catholic schools within the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston, thanked the Wheeling Lions Club.
“We are very grateful for the gift of the screen the Lions have given us," she said.
The device will be used not only at Corpus Christi School, but also at St. Michael Parish School, Our Lady of Peace School and St. Vincent De Paul School.