Programs

SOME THINGS WE’D LIKE YOU TO  KNOW ABOUT FRIENDS FOR SIGHT
Established in 1955 as the Utah Society to Prevent Blindness to screen children for Amblyopia, lazy-eye blindness.  Because fifty million Americans are at risk for vision loss from Glaucoma our mission grew to include screening adults for Glaucoma. We estimate we have screened over  one million individuals, and our message about eye safety, eye disease and eye protection has reached over six million individuals. Though our programs  sometimes touch a person only once, and they may not remember our name, the impact of this screening may change them for a lifetime.
Children are a number one concern at Friends for Sight.  Amblyopia is almost 100% correctable if caught in time, yet the window of correction is prior to age 7, for some  students Amblyopia is a lifetime disease.  A recent report noted that vision disorders are the fourth most common disability and the most prevalent handicapping condition in childhood.  According to the Saratoga Vision Center, one in every six children in the U.S. is two or more grade levels behind in reading and 80% have an eye problem.  The Helen Keller Foundation in their study, found that 25% of junior high school age children cannot read a blackboard because of near-sightedness.  Untreated eye problems can affect learning ability, personality adjustment in school, athletic ability and self-esteem.  Preschool Vision Screening is a volunteer driven service at Friends for Sight.  Over 521,024 children – that’s over a Million Eyes – have been tested.
With the knowledge that teenagers have the highest instance of traffic accidents, in March, 2001,  with the endorsement of the  Utah State Board of Education and Division of Motor Vehicles and cooperation of the Driver’s Education Instructors, we initiated a high school vision screening program.  In this program trained vision screening technicians go to high schools in Districts throughout the Wasatch Front area.  Since it’s inception over 106,132 students have been screened.  Our statistics are consistent, with a 12-14% referral rate of undetected vision problems. We screen for visual acuity, depth perception, peripheral vision and color blindness.  We found that many students haven’t had their eyes tested since they entered school.  Unfortunately some high school students have Amblyopia.
Friends for Sight is the only agency in Utah which offers free Glaucoma testing to the people of Utah. In fiscal year 2008-2009 we screened  23,698 individuals free. A colleague organization on a fee for service basis charges $100 for an adult screening. Using the figure 23,698 individuals screened last year @ $100.00 is a service of $2,369,800.00.
The Glaucoma program also includes:
1. Screening each client for Glaucoma with the Reichert PT100 non-contact tonometer. Contact lens cases & solution are available for anyone who needs them.
2. Visual Field Test – all persons who are referred through our Glaucoma testing or who have another vision concern, are invited to have a visual field test.
3. Visual Acuity testing – providing screening for visual acuity, depth perception, peripheral vision and color blindness.
EYE SPY ON EYE SAFETY
-90% of eye injuries are Preventable
We know how important it is to have normal vision, but in order to have normal vision we must have two good eyes.  In response to many requests from educators and small businesses for an eye safety program, Friends for Sight has developed an Eye Safety Program that will coordinate basic information for everyone, but have component parts for three important segments of population.  Our Lesson Plans are works in progress.
EYE SPY ON SAFETY – Get focused – A classroom curriculum on the Eye for Grades K-6 (following the VSP Campaign), and includes information on the following with classroom activities to highlight the point:
1- Grades K-6 – Eye Basics – describes the eye as an amazing integral part of the body.  The Eyes are the only organ connected directly to the brain, and allow us to see the shape, size, color and depth of the world around us.  Of all the information that our brain receives from our five senses, an estimated 80 percent is received through the eyes.
2- Anatomy – discusses the relationship of the front and back of the eyes.  At this level students seem fascinated by the necessity of eyebrows, eyelashes and eyelids to keep dirt, bugs, sweat, etc. from entering our eyes.  Tears wash our eyes each time we blink – every 5 seconds – that’s approximately 17,000 times a day for humans.
3- Functions of the eye – the likening it to a camera.
 Includes Classroom Activities so the students will understand how the eye works
 and have a better sense of the importance of taking care of their own vision, using
 materials such as eye charts, student worksheets, mirrors, etc.
 a- Investigate lenses and how they bend and focus light.  Monocular vs. Binocular vision.  Relate to FFS’s  earlier screening for Amblyopia.
 b- Activities such as building a camera to experience the effect.  
4- The Dominant Eye – The Blind Spot – Heredity of eye Color – Perception and Illusion
 Seeing spots and images: Mirrors and Periscopes.
5- Eyesight Insight – common visual disorders and diseases: test vision on an eye chart: color blindness: challenges of poor vision.
6- Eye Safety – Taking Care of Vision: Eye Exercises.
FRIENDS FOR SIGHT PHILOSOPHY IS….
Anyone who is able to read these words may find it difficult to imagine a world where sun-light is forever dimmed, streets are filled with only shadowy images, smiles are hidden from view.  From newborns to the eldest, at any age and any stage of life, diseases and disorders of the eye affect not only the way one sees the world, but also one’s ability to succeed and thrive.  For the afflicted and their families, the effects can be devastating.  For society in general, the unrealized human potential that may result in incalculable.
Friends for Sight’s most pressing challenge is that anyone, anywhere – even those no yet born – may suffer from an eye disorder that can affect their learning, their livelihood, their independence, and every aspect of their life.  Though we screen around forty thousand individuals annually, we don’t rest on our laurels.
Our Eye Safety Committee has developed an “Eye Spy Eye Safety” meaningful presentation that will be flexible enough for elementary to high schools, yet sophisticated enough to be adapted for small businesses.
SUMMARY
We know that eighty percent of what we learn is learned visually, but ninety percent of driving is visual.  Good vision not only saves lives and automobiles, but promotes good grades, enhances self-worth, promotes dignity, coordination and determination. Our goal
is to raise awareness of the difference between normal vision and vision problems.  Most of all our senses, our eyes impact our quality of life from birth to death, and like all our vital signs, our eyes work 24/7.
We are uniquely qualified to handle this program, because through our partnership with the Vision Service Plan, we are able to provide a full eye exam and eye glasses to students who meet the financial and residential guidelines.  This service is also FREE.
Please join us in the awesome task of saving sight.  Helen Keller said, “Alone we can do so little.  Together we can do so much
Program Summary FRIENDS FOR SIGHT – Fiscal Year 2009
PRESCHOOL VISION SCREENING PROGRAM – is the STAR of our vision screening programs.    We are proud to celebrate 54 years of vision screening with this outstanding program and made the announcement at our Annual Meeting,  that we have screened 531,297 children – that’s over One Million Eyes.  This program is entirely volunteer driven by dedicated women such as Marion Palmer and Lee Bergstrom who have each been screening over 54 years.
PRESCHOOL VISION SCREENING –  statistics from three main screening centers:
Description of service Salt Lake City   Ogden/No.Utah  
No. children screened 6,084 4,189
No. children referred 220 337  
No. of locations 75 51
Total Volunteer Hours 983 1,136
 Cost of Children’s Vision Screening Program: $
ADULT VISION SCREENING – GLAUCOMA AND VISUAL ACUITY – Adult vision screening is a primarily a volunteer driven program, and our target audience is adults over 35 years old.  Even with modern medical miracles, Glaucoma remains the leading cause of preventable blindness, so we screen at senior centers, corporate headquarters, and health fairs.  For program fiscal years 2007-2008 statistics are as follows:
Description of Service                              Glaucoma Visual Acuity
No. Screened 3,528 4,064
No. Referred 88 730
Total Volunteer Hours 892 892
 Volunteers in this program are primarily pre-med students from the University of Utah, and pre-optometric students at Brigham Young University.
 Cost of Adult Vision Screening Program:  $
YOUTH VISION SCREENING PROGRAM – Friends for Sight’s newest and fastest growing  vision screening program was established reach a neglected population – teenagers. Since
March, 2001, over 100,382 students have been screened, with an alarming 12-14% referral rate.  Though eighty percent of learning is visual, ninety percent of driving is visual.  Since teenagers are the highest risk drivers, good vision is essential.  This program is so intense,
it cannot be handled by volunteers, so part-time vision screeners are hired to screen for visual acuity, depth perception, color blindness and peripheral vision.  Fiscal year 2005-06:
Description of Service Salt Lake City / Ogden / Utah County
No. Of Teenagers Screened 5,716
No. Of Teenagers Referred  1,006
No. Locations  25
No. Of Screeners (part-time)  4
 Cost of High School Vision Screening Program: $

SOME THINGS WE’D LIKE YOU TO KNOW ABOUT FRIENDS FOR SIGHT

 

Established in 1955 as the Utah Society to Prevent Blindness to screen children for Amblyopia, lazy-eye blindness. Because fifty million Americans are at risk for vision loss from Glaucoma our mission grew to include screening adults for Glaucoma. We estimate we have screened over one million individuals, and our message about eye safety, eye disease and eye protection has reached over six million individuals. Though our programs sometimes touch a person only once, and they may not remember our name, the impact of this screening may change them for a lifetime.

 

Children are a number one concern at Friends for Sight. Amblyopia is almost 100% correctable if caught in time, yet the window of correction is prior to age 7, for some students Amblyopia is a lifetime disease. A recent report noted that vision disorders are the fourth most common disability and the most prevalent handicapping condition in childhood. According to the Saratoga Vision Center, one in every six children in the U.S. is two or more grade levels behind in reading and 80% have an eye problem. The Helen Keller Foundation in their study, found that 25% of junior high school age children cannot read a blackboard because of near-sightedness. Untreated eye problems can affect learning ability, personality adjustment in school, athletic ability and self-esteem. Preschool Vision Screening is a volunteer driven service at Friends for Sight. Over 541,903 children – that’s over a Million Eyes – have been tested.

 

With the knowledge that teenagers have the highest instance of traffic accidents, in March, 2001, with the endorsement of the Utah State Board of Education and Division of Motor Vehicles and cooperation of the Driver’s Education Instructors, we initiated a high school vision screening program. In this program trained vision screening technicians go to high schools in Districts throughout the Wasatch Front area. Since it’s inception over 112,406 students have been screened. Our statistics are consistent, with a 12-14% referral rate of undetected vision problems. We screen for visual acuity, depth perception, peripheral vision and color blindness. We found that many students haven’t had their eyes tested since they entered school. Unfortunately some high school students have Amblyopia.

 

Friends for Sight is the only agency in Utah which offers free Glaucoma testing to the people of Utah. In fiscal year 2009-2010 we screened 25,667 individuals free. A colleague organization on a fee for service basis charges $100 for an adult screening. Using the figure 25,667 individuals screened last year @ $100.00 is a service of $2,566,700.00.

 

The Glaucoma program also includes:

1.   Screening each client for Glaucoma with the Reichert PT100 non-contact tonometer. Contact lens cases & solution are available for anyone who needs them.

2.   Visual Field Test – all persons who are referred through our Glaucoma testing or who have another vision concern, are invited to have a visual field test.

3.   Visual Acuity testing – providing screening for visual acuity, depth perception, peripheral vision and color blindness.

 


EYE SPY ON EYE SAFETY

-90% of eye injuries are Preventable

We know how important it is to have normal vision, but in order to have normal vision we must have two good eyes. In response to many requests from educators and small businesses for an eye safety program, Friends for Sight has developed an Eye Safety Program that will coordinate basic information for everyone, but have component parts for three important segments of population. Our Lesson Plans are works in progress.

 

EYE SPY ON SAFETY – Get focused – A classroom curriculum on the Eye for Grades K-6 (following the VSP Campaign), and includes information on the following with classroom activities to highlight the point:

 

 

1- Grades K-6 - Eye Basics – describes the eye as an amazing integral part of the body. The Eyes are the only organ connected directly to the brain, and allow us to see the shape, size, color and depth of the world around us. Of all the information that our brain receives from our five senses, an estimated 80 percent is received through the eyes.

2- Anatomy – discusses the relationship of the front and back of the eyes. At this level students seem fascinated by the necessity of eyebrows, eyelashes and eyelids to keep dirt, bugs, sweat, etc. from entering our eyes. Tears wash our eyes each time we blink – every 5 seconds – that’s approximately 17,000 times a day for humans.

3- Functions of the eye – the likening it to a camera.

Includes Classroom Activities so the students will understand how the eye works and have a better sense of the importance of taking care of their own vision, using materials such as eye charts, student worksheets, mirrors, etc.

  • - Investigate lenses and how they bend and focus light. Monocular vs. Binocular vision. Relate to FFS’s earlier screening for Amblyopia.
  • - Activities such as building a camera to experience the effect.

4- The Dominant Eye – The Blind Spot – Heredity of eye Color – Perception and Illusion, Seeing spots and images: Mirrors and Periscopes.

5- Eyesight Insight – common visual disorders and diseases: test vision on an eye chart: color blindness: challenges of poor vision.

6- Eye Safety – Taking Care of Vision: Eye Exercises.

 

 

FRIENDS FOR SIGHT PHILOSOPHY IS….

 

Anyone who is able to read these words may find it difficult to imagine a world where sun-light is forever dimmed, streets are filled with only shadowy images, smiles are hidden from view. From newborns to the eldest, at any age and any stage of life, diseases and disorders of the eye affect not only the way one sees the world, but also one’s ability to succeed and thrive. For the afflicted and their families, the effects can be devastating. For society in general, the unrealized human potential that may result in incalculable.

 

Friends for Sight’s most pressing challenge is that anyone, anywhere – even those no yet born – may suffer from an eye disorder that can affect their learning, their livelihood, their independence, and every aspect of their life. Though we screen around forty thousand individuals annually, we don’t rest on our laurels.

 

Our Eye Safety Committee has developed an “Eye Spy Eye Safety” meaningful presentation that will be flexible enough for elementary to high schools, yet sophisticated enough to be adapted for small businesses.

 

SUMMARY

 

We know that eighty percent of what we learn is learned visually, but ninety percent of driving is visual. Good vision not only saves lives and automobiles, but promotes good grades, enhances self-worth, promotes dignity, coordination and determination. Our goal

is to raise awareness of the difference between normal vision and vision problems. Most of all our senses, our eyes impact our quality of life from birth to death, and like all our vital signs, our eyes work 24/7.

 

We are uniquely qualified to handle this program, because through our partnership with the Vision Service Plan, we are able to provide a full eye exam and eye glasses to students who meet the financial and residential guidelines. This service is also FREE.

 

Please join us in the awesome task of saving sight. Helen Keller said, “Alone we can do so little. Together we can do so much

 

Program Summary FRIENDS FOR SIGHT – Fiscal Year 2010

       
 
Preschool Vision Screening
Salt Lake Area No. of Children screened                                     5,556
No. Referred 144
Total Volunteer Hours 877
No. of Locations 74
Junior League C.A.R.E Fair – Screened 525
Junior League C.A.R.E Fair – Referred 97
Junior League C.A.R.E Fair – Volunteer Hours 122
Ogden/ Northern Area No. of Children screened 2,904
No. Referred 64
Total Volunteer Hours 703
No. of Locations 49
Community Health Conn. – Screened 1,116
Community Health Conn. – Referred 193
Community Health Conn. – Volunteer Hours 319
Provo Area No. of Children screened 505
No. Referred 23
Total Volunteer Hours 183
No. of Locations 20
St. George Inactive this year. 0
Total Number of children screened in Preschool Vision Screening Program 10,606
Total Number of children referred in Preschool Vision Screening Program 521
Total Number of preschool volunteer hours 2,203
Total Number of Locations 145
Glasses Assistance
Number of Children received VSP Vouchers 37
Number of Adults received OneSight Vouchers (Lenscrafters) 9
Number of Glasses donated 153
Program Report 2009-2010
Page -2-
Glaucoma Alert Program
                         
Number of Adults Screened for Glaucoma 4,293
Number of Adults Referred for Glaucoma 148
Number of Adults Screened for Visual Acuity 4,448
Number of Adults Referred for Visual Acuity 622
Number of Locations 82
Total Number of Adults Screened 8,741
Total Number of Adults Referred 770
Total Number of Volunteer Hours 1,508
Other Important Facts: Friends for Sight screened individuals from 38 cities in Utah, 35 states, and 7 countries.
Driver’s License Check Off
Number of Students Screened for Visual Acuity 6,274
Number of Students Referred for Visual Acuity 1,101
Number of Screeners 4
Number of Locations 30
                                                                                                                                                    55 Year Impact of Friends for Sight Programs
Last Fiscal Year 25,667 individuals were screened by FFS at an average
cost of $90/ eye exam which is a $2,310,030.00 GIFT.
The 55-year financial impact of our screening is:
Children 541,903 (Average $90/ exam)  $     48,771,270.00
Young Adults 112,406 (Average $100/ exam)  $     11,240,600.00
Adults 390,355 (Average $90/ exam)  $     35,131,950.00
VSP- Eye exams / glasses (1,456 @ $265/ exam & glasses)  $           385,840.00
Gift of Sight – Eye exams / glasses (   449 @ $265/ exam & glasses)  $           118,985.00
Total financial impact of free vision screenings:  $     95,648,645.00