Skip to content

Comox Valley Monarch Lions take eye testing to schools

The Comox Valley Monarch Lions Club, in partnership with School District 71, has completed a project called, Your Vision Is Our Vision. This first-of-its-kind program was developed to assist in early detection of vision problems in children.
web1_Little
Chris Little, SPOT Scan chairperson

The Comox Valley Monarch Lions Club, in partnership with School District 71, has completed a project called, Your Vision Is Our Vision. This first-of-its-kind program was developed to assist in early detection of vision problems in children.

Comox Valley students in Grades 2 and 4 had their eyes checked using a SPOT Vision Screener. The SPOT Scanner is a hand-held portable device designed to quickly and easily detect vision issues from a comfortable three-foot distance. Lions conducting the screening were trained on the use of the scanner. The scan screens for indication of common eye problems such as hyperopia (farsightedness), myopia (nearsightedness), astigmatism (blurred vision), anisometropia (unequal refractive power), gaze (alignment measurement), and anisocoria (unequal pupil size). Students whose scan showed a potential vision issue were given a print of the screening results recommending further vision testing by an optometrist.

A total of 1,178 elementary students were screened, with 74 referrals recommended for further eye examination.

The club looks forward to continuing the vision program in the next school year.