College student initiative looks to detect kids’ vision problems

A college student service initiative estimates that thousands of low-income Alabama children have vision problems that go undetected, leading to problems at school.

On Tuesday, a few of those children got help.

FocusFirst held a free vision screening program at the Alfred Saliba Family Services Center’s Main Street location in Dothan, giving eye exams to 44 kids in the Early Head Start and Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters programs.

Parents will soon receive the results of their children’s eye exams, and FocusFirst will help them obtain free or low-cost eye care if needed.

Sherri Williams, a spokesperson for the Alfred Saliba Family Services Center, said most vision problems manifest when children are between the ages of 6 and 8, and catching them and correcting them is important to their future success.

“It is important to detect vision problems early as undetected vision problems can lead to difficulty with learning to read, slow social development and in some cases even permanent blindness,” she said.

FocusFirst is part of Impact Alabama, a student service initiative started by Stephen Black, grandson of the renowned Supreme Court Justice and Alabama native Hugo Black, in 2004. Since then, nearly 1,000 college students have screened more than 35,000 kids in 67 counties throughout Alabama. More than 12 percent of the children had vision problems and received follow-up care.

Early Head Start serves children from birth through age 3, pregnant women, and their families, helping to provide healthy development in low-income children.