Nearly half of the 50,000 Americans who go blind each year, lose their sight needlessly. By conducting screening tests, the Adult Vision Screening program identifies subjects at high risk for eye disorders or potentially blinding diseases and refers them for professional eye care.
Many adult diseases, such as glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy, can steal a persons sight without noticeable symptoms. Any vision that is lost to these diseases cannot be restored, but further loss can be prevented. An Adult Vision Screening can often detect these problems in early and treatable stages.
Volunteers from the community are trained and certified to conduct screenings by going through a 3-4 hour training. Screenings are done at health fairs (such as Black Expo), churches, and corporations. Call our office to sign up for an upcoming training (317) 815-9943 x 2301 or (800)232-2551 x 230 (fax: 317-815-9952).
The screening consists of a risk assessment, distance vision test, near vision test, visual field/glaucoma screening (for subjects 40 and over), and an exit interview. The whole screening takes only 7-12 minutes!
A subject fails the screening if he/she is found to be at high risk for eye disease, has 20/50 vision or worse in either eye, or misses any stimuli during the visual field/glaucoma test.
Failing subjects are strongly recommended to schedule an exam with an eye care professional as soon as possible and are given a form for the professional to fill out and send back to PBI. If the report is not returned within 6 weeks, a letter will be sent or a phone call made. Those in financial need can get help through our Gift of Vision program.
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