Twenty-one students from the Clarke County School District received comprehensive eye exams and selected prescription eyeglasses during a vision clinic held in December at the Clarke Middle Health Center. The participating children, mostly from elementary and middle schools, had previously been identified with vision challenges during school screenings and faced obstacles accessing private vision care.
“We have an astonishing number of kids who face barriers to vision resources in town. You can’t learn or do well in school if you can’t see,” said Amy Roark, director of school nursing for CCSD. “Being able to assist with vision health is one of the most fundamental things we can do.”
The event was organized through a partnership between Prevent Blindness Georgia, a nonprofit organization, and the Clarke Middle Health Center. The center is a 4,000-square-foot facility that provides medical services through faculty and nurses from the University of Georgia School of Medicine as well as students from the Augusta University/University of Georgia Medical Partnership.
Students were transported by bus from various schools across the county. District Support Nurse Margie Varin coordinated student appointments and check-ins before they underwent dilated eye exams administered by Prevent Blindness Georgia staff with support from four AU/UGA Medical Partnership students.
“Catching vision issues early on is so impactful for kids,” said Ganesh Prabakaran, a third-year Medical Partnership student involved in the clinic. “I’m excited to be here because I want to specialize in ophthalmology, and this clinic helps me gain experience with patients who are children.”
Several parents attended the clinic with their children. Hannah Young, whose child attends Bettye Henderson Holton Elementary School, expressed gratitude for the district’s efforts: “This will help her a lot. She is still learning her letters and numbers, and it makes me wonder about her eyesight. If she gets glasses, she may learn them more quickly.”
After their exams, each child chose two pairs of eyeglasses at no cost to their families. Prevent Blindness Georgia will provide the glasses, which will then be delivered by Nurse Varin directly to each student’s school.
“It’s an incredible experience to deliver the glasses and watch the kids put them on for the first time,” Varin said. “Some of the vision issues are so significant that the glasses are life-changing.”
The partnership between CCSD and Prevent Blindness Georgia has been ongoing for three years. Initially funded by a grant during its first two years, this year’s clinic was supported financially by Clarke County School District after recognizing its importance for students.
“The nurses in CCSD are just the best, and we are grateful to work with them,” said Shavette Turner, vice president of children’s vision services at Prevent Blindness Georgia. “The investment Clarke County has made in their students is just incredible.”
Roark credited nurses Margie Varin and Meredith Dykes for ensuring continued success of the program through their advocacy and logistical planning.
Roark also highlighted that Clarke Middle Health Center serves as an important resource: “Clarke Middle Health Center is a landmark across the state of Georgia. It’s the only school-based health center operated by a university,” Roark said. “This space and the warm feeling from UGA staff, doctors and students makes it a great place to host the clinics. While the kids and their families are here, we can tell them about free health services, and there’s a domino effect to get students more health services. It’s all based on solid and wonderful partnerships.”
