Keystone Health, in collaboration with Franklin County Head Start, will be hosting a free children’s vision screening event on Saturday, March 1 from 8:00 am until Noon at the Cochran Professional Center conference room at 830 Fifth Ave in Chambersburg.
The spot vision screening is for kids ages 2 through 18 years old and detects the indication of many vision issues.
Two team members from Franklin County Head Start will perform the screenings using the SPOT vision screening technology system. Any child who has an abnormal result from the screen will be referred to a local optometrist for follow up care. Those who pass the screening test will be encouraged to have a yearly eye exam by a licensed optometrist.
Dr. Michael Colli, board certified pediatrician and medical director of Keystone Pediatrics, said, “The eyes may be the window to your soul, but they can also serve as a window to good or poor health.” Dr. Colli suggests all parents have their children’s eyes checked regularly by a professional, particularly for young children who may not be able to communicate that there is a problem. “Rapid growth can change vision during puberty and a child’s vision may change several times. If your child is not doing well in school, it could be that he or she needs glasses,” he said.
No appointment is needed to attend and the screening only takes approximately 5 to 10 minutes. While vision screenings should be conducted regularly as eyes may change over time, it does not replace a complete eye examination by an ophthalmologist or optometrist.
For more information about the upcoming free vision screening at Keystone Health, send an email to email@keystonehealth.org.
