Eyes Open Wide: Lions Conduct Vision Screening

Vision screening Technology

Students of San Marcos Academy had their eyes opened to the wonders of Spot Vision technology recently as the San Marcos Lions Club and the Buda Lions Club joined together for the vision screening of 158 SMA students as part of the SightFirst program.

First graders Gino Pastrano and Parker Nicholson have their eyesight tested by Charles and Nancy Handrick while Larkin Smith and Nurse Susan Ledbetter look on.

With the assistance of faculty and staff of the Academy, Lions using three Spot devices screened the students on Wednesday, Nov. 6. 
Even the students accustomed to working with today’s high-level computers, gaming consoles, and cell phones expressed amazement at the speed of the vision screening and the amount of information produced on the printed reports.

The Spot Vision Screener is a handheld vision screening device that helps users quickly and easily detect vision issues on patients from 6 months of age through adult. Spot screens both eyes at once from a nonthreatening 3-foot distance. The touch-screen display allows for one-touch activation, simple management of patient data entry, and easy configuration for both vision screening tests and autorefraction applications.

vision screening with young people

“It’s always our pleasure to have the opportunity to screen young people at these events,” said Rowe Ray, custodian and screener for the San Marcos Lions Club. “And getting the chance to visit with them is just icing on the cake. Good vision is critical to the growth and development of these students, and as Lions we are proud to respond to Helen Keller’s challenge for us to be “Knights of the Blind.”

Rowe Ray, along with Nancy and Charles Handrick prepare their Spot Vision Screeners for the next round of students.

Out of the 158 students screened at the Academy, only nine had to be referred for future vision testing by an optometrist or ophthalmologist.

vision screening volunteers

Participating in the Academy vision screening event were Charles and Nancy Handrick of the Buda Lions Club; 2-S3 District Governor Larkin Smith; San Marcos Lions and Academy representatives Nancy Smith, Diane Groves, and Rhonda McNeil; San Marcos Lion Rowe Ray; and Academy Director of Health Services Susan Ledbetter.

Even staff members, like First Grade Instructor Rebecca Nash, had the opportunity to get their eyesight tested.

“We are so appreciative to the Lions Clubs who assisted us in the process of vision screening our students,” Nurse. Ledbetter said. “It not only saved us time, but the students enjoyed the process and were fascinated by the technology. Our parents also appreciated receiving the detailed reports.”

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