March, 2015
Children's Vision Massachusetts is a coalition representing optometry, ophthalmology, nursing, pediatrics, public health and families. Its mission is to create a systematic approach to children's vision care that assures that all children develop and retain their best possible vision.

VISIONARIES
Essilor Vision Foundation Adopt-a-School Program

Powered by over 25 volunteers from many departments across the plant, the Essilor Vision Foundation's "Adopt-A-School" program is entering its 7th year of operation in Dudley, MA. This year they are on target to screen over 650 children donating over 120 hours of service. The program began in Dudley, MA when employees of Gentex Optics, Inc. conducted their first vision screenings in the fall of 2008.   The next year the team conducted even more screenings and added "tune-up" sessions in schools when volunteers from the lab at Gentex repair bent glasses replace/add nosepieces and sometimes supply a student with a replacement pair of glasses. Turnaround time for broken glasses has been less 6 hours which is invaluable to the child trying to function without them. These sessions now happen twice a year - once before summer vacation and once upon their return the following fall. Education and training for this program has been provided by Prevent Blindness.

 

 


Awards     

Jean Ramsey, MD, MPH, Boston University School of Medicine and Children's Vision MA co-chair, and Barry Kran, OD, FAAO, New England College of Optometry and Clinical Dir. NEE Perkins Low Vision Clinic were presented with the Allen Crocker MD Health Services Award at the Massachusetts Dept. of Developmental Services State House Celebration by Elin M. Howe, Commissioner, Massachusetts Department of Developmental Services. Drs. Ramsey and Kran were recognized for their "development of a lasting and effective partnership between the medical and optometry professions around eye care for individuals with intellectual disability, and success at building a critically needed bridge between the disability and eye care communities".

 

 


Coalition Project Update  

LiveWell Springfield--KIDS Coalition Vision Initiative - EyeSEE (Screening, Education, Exams)

 

Lions District Y volunteers have recently completed vision screening of 295 preschool aged children enrolled in the EyeSEE Pilot Study. On March 17, Children's Vison MA co-chair Bruce Moore, OD, gave Pediatric Grand Rounds at Baystate Medical Center on the topic of children's vision screening and care. Coalition member Joan Lowbridge-Sisley, and her team, continue to provide inspiring leadership for the design, planning, and implementation of EyeSEE program activities.

 

 

In the News 

  

Dana Cohen, Optician and Children's Vision MA member, was recently recognized as Best of the Best: Kid Smart by Invisionmag.com for his 34 years in the optical business which has a current clientele that is 80 percent children. In addition to his Medford shop, Dana opened a second location eight years ago within the ophthalmology department at Boston Children's Hospital in Waltham, MA.

  

 


Upcoming Conferences

 

Prevent Blindness announces the 4th Annual Focus on Eye Health National Summit, to be held on June 17, 2015, at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. The Summit will include a variety of presentations related to this year's theme, "Game Changers in Vision." Register today! Click Here!


Children's Vision Massachusetts
kmajzoub@preventblindness.org

Open Eyes. Open Doors.

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