SAVANNA-LA-MAR, Westmoreland — The number of children in need of prescription eyeglasses at one Westmoreland school has surged by about 194 per cent over the last three years, according to Dr Gary Anderson, director of the Lions of Michigan Vision Mission Team to Jamaica. However, he has indicated that this trend is not unusual.

In 2023, his team saw 17-20 per cent of students at Savanna-la-Mar Inclusive Institution needing medical glasses, in comparison to 50 per cent this year.

“There is a much higher percentage of need for glasses from when we were here three years ago, and that’s [because of] the environment, that’s doing a lot of close work, that’s genetics,” said Anderson.

Principal of Savanna-la-Mar Inclusive Norda Louden registers an observation during the screening programme.

“It’s not just one factor, it’s not anybody doing anything incorrectly, it’s just what’s going on; we see that really all over the world — a much higher rate. We were just in India and China this past year, and in China, they have almost a 60 per cent rate of needing glasses. They do a lot of close work, a lot of computer work,” he added.

The Sav school, which currently has a student population of 290, includes some with special needs. With parental permission, more than 100 students participated in screening done at the school Wednesday. Staff also benefited from the expertise of the team of 22 doctors and a number of volunteers. It is part of a wider initiative in Jamaica, made possible through a partnership with the Issa Trust Foundation and Couples Resorts.

The programme provides free comprehensive eye care, prescription glasses, and diabetic eye screenings. Additional beneficiaries included staff and children of Couples Resorts in Negril (spanning Westmoreland and Hanover) and St Mary.

Anderson noted that some of the children at Savanna-la-Mar Inclusive suffer from near- and far-sightedness, creating special difficulties for learning and classroom function. He further explained that children with disabilities or other complications often experience a higher rate of visual problems, and the team hopes to continue providing service to those in need.

Optometrist Dr Sherah Eavey examining the eyes of a Savanna-la-Mar Inclusive student on Wednesday during a screening programme conducted at the school by the Lions of Michigan Vision Mission Team to Jamaica. Holding a toy in the background is volunteer Ron Riebschleger.

“I’m just happy that we’re able to be here and help those kids. It means there’s a bigger need. My goal… as an eye doctor Lion around the world, is to help meet that need, especially where it’s not being met,” explained Anderson.

The school’s principal, Norda Louden, was left elated by the assistance.

“A significant number of our students have benefited and I am truly grateful for the opportunities. They reached out to us to assist us in enabling our students to get the vision care done. Otherwise, the cost could have been much higher for parents… Because we know that in Jamaica, eye care is extremely expensive. The fact that Issa Trust Foundation came on board in partnership with the Rockhouse Foundation, we are immensely grateful,” stated Louden.

Volunteer Natalee Clemetson-Williams fits a Savanna-la-Mar Inclusive student for eyeglasses during a screening programme conducted at the school by the Lions of Michigan Vision Mission Team to Jamaica on Wednesday. Assisting with a mirror is volunteer Gregory Williams.

Issa Trust Foundation President and Chief Executive Officer Diane Pollard told the Jamaica Observer that, for the first time, the team was able to identify people whose uncontrolled diabetes was unknowingly having a negative impact on their eyes. This was made possible with the use of a retina camera.

“The equipment is very expensive, the licensing is very expensive, and so this year, they [Lions of Michigan Vision Mission Team] were able to do that,” stated Pollard.

A medical diagnostic retina camera (or fundus camera) is a specialised low-power microscope with an attached camera used to capture high-resolution digital images of the interior surface of the eye, including the retina, optic disc, and blood vessels. The machine can provide early diagnosis of blood vessel damage and swelling before vision loss occurs.