Vision Screenings with the Pomona Unified School District

MPH 690 - Culminating Experience

 § WHO:
§ Western University of Health Sciences - College of Optometry
§ Pomona Unified School District
§ California Department of Education

§ WHAT:
§ Performed vision screenings on elementary school aged students in the Pomona Unified School District

§ WHERE:
§ Pomona, CA

§ WHEN:
§ October 2018

§ WHY:
§ According to the California Department of Education, students are required to receive a vision screening
upon entry into the public school system and every three years after until the 8th grade. (CA Dept. of
Education)
§ Promote access to education by removing barriers to visual health
§ Provide access to healthcare for low income populations

Image from www.pusd.org

Preceptor: Dr. Kristy Remick-Waltman,
OD, FCOVD
§ Director of Community Outreach,
Associate Professor

(Third to the left – Me)

§ As aspiring student optometrists, our goal for vision screenings was to practice
patient care and our technical skills while serving the visual health needs of the
students in the Pomona Unified School District.
§ Since Pomona, CA is predominantly a low income population and mostly Hispanic
(~70%), our objective was to help provide access to and referral for visual
healthcare to improve community health outcomes. (US Census 2017)
§ Although we were limited in our technical skills and instruments to perform a
comprehensive exam, our goal was to specifically look for students who had
neurological visual health issues and visual acuity issues at distance and near.
§ The objective is to identify students who have visual health issues, educate their
teachers and family, and provide affordable and accessible follow up care so that
the student can receive aid and that visual health barriers would not prevent them
from accessing their education.
§ Tested student’s distance and near visual acuity with an eye chart
§ Diagnosed any eye turns by checking how well the student’s eye
muscles work
§ Utilized new technology by using a computer program game to help
determine how well a student can see
§ Checked for neurological issues that affect their vision system
§ Tested for color vision deficiencies
§ Tested for stereo depth perception deficiencies
§ During one vision screening, we found a neurological issue with a student.
§ Student was friendly, happy, and well-mannered, but had issues with focusing on
our instructions, as well as having difficulty reading at distance and near.
§ After performing a specific test to check how well his eyes worked together to
focus on objects as they come closer to him, his eyes remained stuck at a cross-
eyed position. He began to lose his balance and almost hit his head on the table.
§ My colleague was able to catch him before he hit his head.
§ After referring him to our preceptor, she was able to diagnose a specific
neurological issue that required follow up with an optometrist and pediatrician.
§ This experience showed how important these vision screenings were because if we
had not found this issue, the student may have continued having focusing issues in
class, thus affecting his education.
§ After performing vision screenings, I have learned how optometry can play a role
in promoting the health a community, especially one that is predominantly low-
income.
§ Promoting education is important to empowering a community.
§ Removing barriers to education, such as providing visual aid to students who have
barriers to affording or accessing it, can have a profound and snowball effect on
improving their education.
§ In order to promote more partnership between the field of optometry and public
health, it requires active legislative participation to help open up pathways for the
community of Pomona to access the care they need.
§ As an optometrist, this requires a continuing education about optometry and the
community’s needs, while pursuing continued involvement with the community by
building trust and providing quality care and access to healthcare.
§ The vision and mission of public health with Azusa has always been centered on Christ
and the “Christ” tenets of public health.
§ My mission as an optometrist and public health advocate is put these goals into action
by providing quality eye care to everyone who needs it in order to empower them to
help others out so that they may be able help others and live a healthy quality of life.
§ As a believer, my goal is to help provide care so that my future patients may someday
see and know who God is and how God is working in their lives.
§ As I conclude my studies in Public Health and continue my studies as a student
optometrist, I have the unique opportunity of bridging these two educational
backgrounds to better the society I live in.
§ Although I can very much attain these goals without Christ, it is only because of Christ,
we are truly saved from our idolatry in our work and in our health. We can truly live
when we embody honesty, resiliency, integrity, servant-leadership, and transformation
with Christ-like love, through everything that we do. (1 Corinthians 10:23-31)
§ California Department of Education (2005) A Guide for Vision Testing in California
Public Schools. Retrieved from
https://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/he/hn/documents/visionreport.pdf
§ US Census Bureau (2017) Quick Facts: Pomona, CA. Retrieved from
https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/pomonacitycalifornia
§ Bible Gateway (2018) 1 Corinthians 10:23-31. Retrieved from
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+10%3A23-
33&version=ESV