WHEELS: Rolling Out the Best in Eye and Ear Care

RICHMOND, VA, August 27, 2010 (Press-News.org) Prevent Blindness Mid-Atlantic, in partnership with the Richmond Eye and Ear Foundation and Stony Point Surgery Center, is pleased to roll out their mobile eye and ear screening unit, appropriately called WHEELS (Where Healthy Eyes and Ears Lead to Success).

It has been discovered that at least 80% of what a child learns in a classroom setting is observed through the eyes, while 75% of the daily activities are processed through the ears. With this in mind, Prevent Blindness Mid-Atlantic wants to give each child the best chance to absorb every part of the learning process. By identifying visual and hearing challenges before they present any roadblocks to learning, the WHEELS program offers families critical information, as well as options, that can repair damaged sight and hearing. The screening efforts ensure that each child starting school can be on their way to educational success. The WHEELS program focuses on screening the ear and eye performance of pre-school-aged children, and also teaches them the importance of eye and ear health.

The WHEELS program, new this year, is estimated to reach 3,000 students and their families, and will be heading out to the cities of Richmond, Colonial Heights, Hopewell, and Petersburg, as well as the surrounding counties from Hanover to Goochland, New Kent to Lancaster, and Northumberland to Cumberland. For a complete list of counties and participating schools, please visit http://www.stonypointsc.com/Foundation. Parents or educators interested in having the WHEELS mobile visit their location for screenings can contact (804) 423-2020 or click here for more information.

Caught early, there are a multitude of options available to overcome vision and hearing impairments before they make a negative impact on the learning abilities of children. Prevent Blindness Mid-Atlantic, through its WHEELS program, is working to eliminate the frustration that comes with struggling to see or hear classroom instruction.

Richmond Eye & Ear Foundation was very impressed with the research and proposal that was developed by Prevent Blindness Mid-Atlantic. "The potential impact of the WHEELS program on the success of children by early detection of vision or hearing problems is incredible. Prevent Blindness identified a very important community need and a very practical solution. The Foundation is very pleased to be able to support this effort over the next five years," said Cheryl R. Jarvis, Chairperson, Richmond Eye & Ear Foundation.

About Stony Point Surgery Center
Stony Point Surgery Center is Central Virginia's pre-eminent outpatient surgical facility. With flexible hours, appointment-only settings, and no hospital attachment to cause delays, each patient is a priority. Founded in the tradition of the former Richmond Eye and Ear Hospital, Stony Point Surgery Center leads the industry in innovative hearing and vision corrective treatments. The Richmond Eye & Ear Foundation provides support to community based programs that increase access to care for hearing and vision related problems and funds research in Otolaryngology and Ophthalmology. For more information about Stony Point Surgery Center, please visit their website at http://www.StonyPointSC.com.

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