Lions’ latest screenings of kids employ new technology
Published 5:00 pm Tuesday, June 4, 2013
- <p>The Enterprise/Joseph and Wallowa Lions Clubs conducted hearing tests at all three Wallowa County schools last month. Here the service organization works with Enterprise second graders.</p>
The local Enterprise/Joseph and Wallowa Lions clubs were busy recently when they screened elementary students from all three local schools for sight and hearing impairments.
About 15 local Lions Club volunteers participated and tested over 300 kids with the help of Portland-based Oregon Lions Sight and Hearing Foundation members Brad King and Wally Anderson.
The Lions Club paid a minimal fee to the foundation to help make the club’s eyesight screenings more objective and more efficient.
Of particular interest is a new laser camera, Spot, brought by King and Anderson, and made by PediaVision. It enables testers to take infrared pictures of the children’s eyes. The computerized Spot device analyzes the eyes and checks for impairments such as misalignment, stigmatisms and for far- or near-sightedness.
Brad King said it was the first time ever the camera was used by the foundation in a large screening situation.
At past screenings, before the Lions had use of the camera, the volunteers used to line kids up to test their eyes and have them read an eye chart to them. The camera eliminates subjective observations of both the tester and the tested.
If the Spot device picks up any abnormalities, a red light comes on, and if baseline readings are incorrect, recommendations for further testing are made.
Using the Spot is also more efficient, allowing more people to be tested within a given period of time. The local volunteers were able to test about a hundred students in a matter of hours.
All the testing occurred over a three-day period, May 14-16. Joseph students were tested on Tuesday, May 14, Enterprise students on Wednesday, and Wallowa’s kids on Thursday. Volunteer hours required were minimal.
The local Lions Clubs in Wallowa County work year-round to help people in need. Fundraising events are held at Ferguson Ski Ridge and their biggest event, a yard and garage sale, helps raise money for scholarships. The Lions Club motto is “WE SERVE.”
The Lions Eyeglass Assistance Program (LEAP) helps those who do not have the money for a pair of eyeglasses, providing them vouchers to take to a local optometrist. The vouchers help both the young and the old.
The Lions Club has been in existence since 1917 and can be found in the white pages of any phone book.
