Encompass children get free eye exams

Published 3:08 pm Thursday, October 29, 2015

The children at Encompass Early Learning Center got a free checkup from the Snoqualmie Valley Eye Care Associates on Oct. 20 and 21. Optometrist Dr. Nessa Livingston and eye care technicians Jinni O’Day and Leslie Beck volunteered their time at Encompass to check over 100 pairs of eyes in two days.

Livingston said that while this is her first year volunteering for the tests at Encompass, the program is an established one.

“The program got started about three or four years ago,” Livingston said. “Dr. (Andrea) McKinney did it the previous year.”

Livingston, O’Day, and Beck tested children ages 2 through 5 in visual acuity, color vision, and depth perception.

“If they miss any of those it could be a sign they need glasses,” Livingston said.

Beck and O’day said they get great results from these simple, but very effective, tests, in years past some of the children have had to get glasses due to early identification of possible vision problems.

“We recommend (children get a check up) before they start school, in kindergarten,” Beck said. “A lot of learning disabilities are visual and hearing problems.”

Each of the eye care volunteers conducted different tests with the children and then swapped so they could quickly and effectively check every child.

The visual acuity test was done by Beck who used cards with images to compare the children’s eyesight to the standard of 20/20 vision.

O’Day tested for depth perception using 3D glasses and a board with stereoscopic images.

Livingston tested for near and farsightedness.

“I was getting a reading on what their prescription would be, nearsighted or farsighted,” Livingston said. “It’s an objective test screening for a large amount of variance one way or the other, we are screening for outliers.”

All three volunteers agreed doing check ups for the children has been a rewarding experience.

“It’s been a great thing,” Livingston said.

Encompass staffer Julie Forslin, left, and technician Jinni O’Day work with Barack, 3, on eye tests.

Dr. Nessa Livingston examines a girl’s eyes during an Encompass clinic Oct. 21.

Jaqlynne participates in an eye test.