Beginning with their first screening at Winnemucca Grammar School in April 2008, they've held a total of 20 events and tested 444 school children. Rotary volunteers have spent many Saturday mornings at gyms and multipurpose rooms all over Humboldt County, holding screenings at all three Winnemucca elementary schools, McDermitt, Paradise Valley, Denio, Orovada and Kings River schools. They've also held a vision screening just for homeschooled students and invited them to other screenings.
The goal of this vision screening program has been to complement the wonderful work that district Nurse Marian Tyree and her great team of health assistants already do by performing additional vision tests such as visual tracking, focusing and visual-motor integration. The screenings have been open to all children, but the goal of the vision screenings is to target at-risk students.
For those that fail any of the tests, they recommend comprehensive eye and vision examinations and provide parents with a list of optometrists in northern Nevada who have advanced training in treating students with these types of vision problems. For those without insurance and who may be unable to afford further testing and treatment, parents are provided additional resources, including the VSP Sight for Students program and the local Lions Club services.
The most recent vision screening was held at Sonoma Heights Elementary School, where 31 students were seen and 21 with potential problems were identified. Each student's results were sent to their teachers to help aid them in their classroom, and those who did not pass the screening were recommended comprehensive vision exams.
Bob Himmelreich, a Rotarian and member of the Winnemucca Host Lions Club, volunteered for this and many vision screenings and has been helpful in providing information on assistance that the local Lions Club offers.
In addition to holding vision screenings with his team of Rotary volunteers, after practicing optometry for four years Dr. Bengoa underwent a rigorous evaluation of his knowledge and abilities in providing developmental and behavioral vision care for patients through the College of Optometrist in Vision Development (COVD) International Examination and Certification Board.
He successfully completed the examination process and is a designated Fellow of COVD (FCOVD), being one of only two in Nevada. He provides state-of-the-art services in behavioral and developmental vision care, vision therapy and visual rehabilitation. These specialized services improve visual abilities and correct many vision problems in infants, children and adults.
Dr. Bengoa describes good vision as being more than just seeing 20/20. Vision involves over 20 visual abilities, and 80 percent of what a child perceives, comprehends and remembers depends on the efficiency of the visual system. Visual dysfunctions can greatly affect academic and sports performance, and left untreated can negatively impact a child for the rest of their lives.
Potential signs of learning-related vision problems include avoiding near work, frequently losing your place when reading and omitting, inserting or rereading letters or words. Children may also experience difficulty copying from the board, holding a book too close to their eyes, needing to use a finger to keep track when reading and having an inconsistent or poor sports performance.
The Rotary Club of Winnemucca plans to continue future vision screenings this next school year, and invites all Humboldt County students and their parents to take advantage of this free service. For more information about the screenings, contact Rotary Club of Winnemucca Learning-Related Vision Screening Chairman Dr. Cody Bengoa (623-5211, csbengoa@gmail.com).
For information concerning vision problems, contact Parents Active for Vision Education (800-728-3988, www.pavevision.org) or the College of Optometrists in Vision Development (888-268-3770, www.covd.org).
[[In-content Ad]]
