The Western New York Lions Club, based in Erie County, NY, has offered a free vision screening program for children for the last ten years. On average, the Club screens 20,000 children a year. “We start screening events the week after Labor Day and go all the way through the following June,” says Michael Lawkowski, President, Western New York Lions Club.
The Club runs screening events in schools from Niagara Falls to the Pennsylvania state line, including the city of Buffalo, New York. Each school year, they hold about 200 screening events in daycares and schools. The majority of children screened are in Pre-K through second grade. Screenings are performed right in classrooms and Lawkowski reports that the Spot Vision Screener is easy to use and performs well in low-light spaces and brighter areas.
The Western New York Lions Club, based in Erie County, NY, has offered a free vision screening program for children for the last ten years. On average, the Club screens 20,000 children a year. “We start screening events the week after Labor Day and go all the way through the following June,” says Michael Lawkowski, President, Western New York Lions Club.
Being involved in our vision screening program is rewarding for our Club members. It’s fun to be with the kids and satisfying to know that you have had a hand in helping prevent vision loss in our community.
„The Western New York Lions Club relies on Spot Vision Screeners for its robust program. The Club owns nine devices and has exclusively used Spot Vision Screeners for the last ten years. “The Spot Vision Screener is just so easy to use…all of our volunteers share that feedback,” says Lawkowski. Volunteers receive on-the-job training to use the Spot Vision Screener at screening events. “Initially, we will let the new volunteers watch experienced screeners, then by the second day, we let them start screening kids themselves. The camera is so simple to use,” says Lawkowski.
The reporting functionality of the Spot Vision Screener is also a benefit for the Western New York Lions Club. “The results are displayed right on the device in a clear and concise way after the image is captured, and a full report can be printed. That makes it easy for the school nurses to talk with parents and caregivers about what the device detected and if a referral to an ophthalmologist is needed.”
The Club’s program has a significant impact on the children they screen, parents and caregivers, and even school nurses. “The kids will strike a pose thinking you are taking their picture, not realizing we’re really helping to prevent vision loss with the screening,” says Lawkowski. “Parents appreciate the detailed report they receive to take to the ophthalmologist if follow-up care is needed. However, school nurses are usually the most impressed. Not only are we able to screen a large number of children in a short period of time, but they are blown away by how attentive the kids are during the screening because it’s so fast and easy for them. Nurses also value the reports we provide so they can track the children who need follow-up care.”
Lawkowski reports that a potential vision disorder is detected in 20% of the children they screen. That equates to up to 600 children each year who may need vision correction to prevent permanent vision loss. “In the low-income areas we serve that have higher than average poverty rates, the detection rate can jump as high as 35%,” says Lawkowski.
Baxter, Hillrom, Spot and Welch Allyn are trademarks of Baxter International Inc. or its subsidiaries.
US-FLC158-240148 (v1.0) 12/2024
