Uckfield Lions Vision Cameras for Schools.
Uckfield Lions are offering the ‘Lions Child Sight UK’ programme to local schools, in which lions undertake screening for visual defects in all primary school children. The NHS believes that c.13% of children under 11 have an undiagnosed problem with their eyesight, that nobody is aware of. Where-as adults will notice changes in their sight, small children who have always seen the world in a particular way, will probably not realise that there is anything wrong.
To provide this service lions have bought a number of specialist cameras. When a child looks into the camera the instrument will identify any possible concern & no physical contact occurs. This screening service indicates situations where there may be a problem & parents will then be advised to take their child to an optician, who will make the necessary diagnosis.
Uckfield lions have been trained to use the cameras & have been DBS checked to enable them to go into schools. By detecting potential sight problems at a young age, prompt eyesight correction may be made. There are some eye conditions easily treated in very young children, which become progressively more difficult to treat after the age of around six years. According to educational experts 80% of learning is visual & 40% of the brain processes visual images, so that if a child cannot see well, their learning is badly hampered & early diagnosis will therefore assist their education.
This vision screening programme is offered by the lions entirely free of charge to primary schools. Eye tests & glasses are also free for children whilst they are in full- time education, which is a further advantage in picking up problems early. There are already 5 local schools taking advantage of the programme, with more to confirm.
