Philadelphia Eagles Eye Mobile at Emlen Elementary School
The Independence Blue Cross Foundation, in cooperation with the Eagles Charitable Foundation, supported vision screening professional development for more than 250 Philadelphia school nurses to ensure they are properly trained and certified to administer vision screenings. The all-day event, held at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, provided nurses with extensive, in-depth training to certify them as vision screeners. Upon completion of both an online educational module and an in-person skill assessment, each nurse will receive a national vision screening certification valid for three years.
Studies indicate that about one in four school-aged children have a vision problem that requires treatment and that half of public school students who fail their state-mandated eye screenings do not receive the necessary follow-up care. It is mandatory that every student receives a vision screening in the state of Pennsylvania each year. However, it is not required that the individuals conducting the screenings be certified, which leads to poor uniformity in screening procedures and monitoring student vision health.
Prevent Blindness – the nation’s leading volunteer eye health and safety organization –administered the vision screening training and national certification.
The IBC Foundation also supports the Eagles Charitable Foundation Eagles Eye Mobile and Glass Lab, which provides eye exams and prescription glasses at no cost to Philadelphia school children.
