August 25, 2008
A state nonprofit organization will conduct vision screenings Monday at elementary schools and Head Start locations inMorganCounty.
Based on a contribution from The Decatur Daily, college students working with FocusFirst staff have screened about 360 children at 16 daycare centers and Head Starts in Morgan County over the past year. On Monday, FocusFirst staff plan to screen an additional 375 children inMorganCounty.
Since 2004, more than 950 students attending 17 Alabama colleges, universities and high schools have screened more than 35,000 children for eye diseases and disorders as part of their affiliation with FocusFirst.
A potential problem has been detected in about 12.4 percent of the Alabama children screened. All such children received or will receive fully subsidized follow-up care under the supervision and coordination of Sight Savers of Alabama.
Student volunteers travel to communities of need and conduct vision screenings for children 6 months to 5 years old using photo screening technology.
