Prevent Blindness Florida Staff and Volunteers
Accept 2005 "Best Practice" Award for the Migrant Community Vision and Health Project
The objectives of this project are to provide comprehensive vision screenings, treatment and eye glasses for migrant farm workers in the community of Immokalee, Florida which is a very low-income community about 50 miles west of Naples. A secondary objective is to partner with, mobilize and form lasting relationships with other organizations in the community focused on eye care and the prevention of blindness.
The vision screening and treatment were initially planned as a single-day event. However, since the initial event, four screenings have been held and others are planned for the future.
Dr. Alfred Cinatti, a retired ophthalmologist and Lions Club member, helped champion this project through many of the Lions Clubs in southwest Florida. Eye glasses were collected by the Lions Clubs and organized by strength and prescription level. During the inaugural event, there were over 3,000 pairs of eyeglasses set up in a room to be fitted to the individuals that were screened and required glasses.
- The flow of the screenings were as follows:
- Participants were first given a basic information form to complete asking for name, address, age; etc.
- The participant’s blood pressure was taken along with a diabetes screening. This was conducted by the Collier County Health Department.
- The participants moved to another room for visual acuity screening.
- Participants over 30 years old moved to a room for glaucoma screening.
- If required as a result of the screenings, the participant saw an eye care physician for further diagnosis and recommended treatment. In many cases, the participants were treated on site.
- The participants that required glasses were taken to a final room to be fitted with a pair of glasses that met their needs.
During the four events, over 1,000 adults and children have been screened and treated. The first event had 203 participants, 253 for the second event, 257 for the third event and over 300 for the fourth event.
Corrective eye glasses were given to over 150 people, 70 were given bifocals, 23 for myopia. Many of the field workers had Pterygia, a growth on the cornea at 3 and 9 o’clock found in those with extended exposure to sunlight. Sunglasses were offered to these individuals. A total of 40 screening participants were referred for further evaluation.
Donated equipment, supplies and 105 volunteer workers came from area Lions Clubs, Prevent Blindness Florida, the Congressional Glaucoma Foundation, Welch Allyn Corporation, Collier County Health Department, Senior Friendship Center, Medical Dental Clinic of Naples, Social Service Agency of Immokalee, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, Lenscrafters, and retired ophthalmologists.
This project has been held in March and November the last two years. It is scheduled to be held again in November 2005 and March 2006. It can certainly be replicated in other at-risk communities throughout Florida and the country by partnering with organizations such as the groups listed above.
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