Christmas Screening at Coal Pit Learning Center

Richmond, VA (December 9, 2011) - Prevent Blindness Mid-Atlantic staff and members of our Board of Directors joined the staff and students at Coal Pit Learning Center in Glen Allen today for a Christmas screening and celebration.  The students received our state-of-the-art technology-based vision screening, which can identify a full range of potential vision problems in young children. 

The Coal Pit Learning Center is a non-profit organization providing a free preschool program for at-risk three, four and five year olds.  Founder and Director Dorothy Gallimore welcomed the program in support of the Center's goal to prepare students for entry into the school system.

Some childhood vision problems, if not treated early enough, can lead to permanent blindness.  The goal of our program is to identify children at risk for vision problems while those issues are treatable and the children's precious sight can be preserved.  One benefit of screening preschool-aged children is that we can identify, and hopefully treat, vision problems before they affect the child's learning in school.

The screening requires the child to focus for only a couple of seconds on the front of the screening camera, which quickly takes a series of pictures of the eyes.  The screener's software interprets the photos and uses preset parameters to evaluate the child's acuity (basic vision) and the eyes' ability to work together (indicators of amblyopia, or lazy eye).

 

Looking on, pictured left to right, are: Board Chairman, Bo Pegram, OD; Kim Banu and her husband, Board Member John Banu; and Dr. Thomas P. Stratford, Medical Chairman.

Staff members Lauren Garber, W.H.E.E.L.S. Specialist; Alison Markow, Manager of Children's Programs; and Pat Keefer, Administrative Assistant conducted the screening with the help of one of Coal Pit's wonderful teachers, Ms. Christie.

After the screening, the children received gift bags stuffed with a teddy bear, a stocking cap and a book generously donated by Chick-fil-A at Chesterfield Towne Center.  The children also were given greeting cards with a Christmas photo of themselves to give to a parent or loved one.

Afterwards, we were blessed to hear the children practice their Christmas carols accompanied by their volunteer music leader, Ms. Jolly.