The Sight Center Of Northwest Pennsylvania

THE MISSION OF THE SIGHT CENTER IS TO PREVENT BLINDNESS AND PROMOTE INDEPENDENCE FOR THOSE WITH VISION LOSS AND THOSE WHO ARE BLIND.

PREVENTION OF BLINDNESS: RESEARCH CONFIRMS THAT 25% OF CHILDREN ENTER KINDERGARTEN WITH A VISUAL CONDITION THAT IMPEDES LEARNING. AS PART OF OUR MISSION TO PREVENT BLINDNESS, THE CENTER PROVIDED 3,008 PEDIATRIC VISION SCREENINGS AND 447 YOUTH WERE EDUCATED IN PRE-SCHOOLS, CHILD-CARE CENTERS AND KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION EVENTS IN OUR SEVEN-COUNTY SERVICE AREA FROM JULY 1, 2022 THROUGH JUNE 30, 2023. THIS IS AN UPWARD TREND SINCE THE COVID RESTRICTIONS WERE LIFTED. ROUGHLY 6% OF CHILDREN SCREENED FAILED THE SCREENINGS AND WERE REFERRED FOR FOLLOW-UP WITH AN EYE CARE PROFESSIONAL. PARENTS OF ALL CHILDREN WHO FAILED SCREENINGS WERE CONTACTED WITH A CALL AND A REFERRAL LETTER AND THEN AGAIN AT 30 AND 60 DAYS TO SUPPORT EYE HEALTH LITERACY FOR PARENTS AND POST-SCREENING TO ENSURE CARE WAS PROVIDED TO THE CHILD. THIS SIGHT CENTER REFERRAL RATE MATCHES THE NATIONAL BENCHMARKS OF 6-8%.IN SUPPORT OF ITS MISSION TO PREVENT BLINDNESS, IN 2017 THE SIGHT CENTER IMPLEMENTED THE NATIONAL DIABETES PREVENTION PROGRAM (NDPP) CREATED AND SPONSORED BY THE NATIONAL CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION (CDC). DIABETES IS THE LEADING CAUSE OF SEVERE AND PERMANENT VISION LOSS IN WORKING-AGE ADULTS. BY PREVENTING OR DELAYING THE ON-SET OF DIABETES, WE PREVENT OR DELAY DIABETES-RELATED DAMAGE TO THE EYES. THE CENTER RECEIVED AND MAINTAINED FULL NATIONAL CDC RECOGNITION FOR THIS PROGRAM FOR TEN DATA SUBMISSON CYCLES BETWEEN 2017 AND 2021. DOUBLE FULL RECOGNITION WAS AWARDED IN 2022 MAKING THE CENTER'S PROGRAM ONE OF ONLY A HANDFUL IN THE NATION WITH THAT DESIGNATION. PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS SUCCESSFULLY GRADUATE WITH WEIGHT LOSS AT OR IN EXCESS OF THE PRESCRIBED 5-7% AND INCREASE THEIR EXERCISE TO A MINIMUM OF 150 MINUTES PER WEEK.PARTICIPATION CONTINUES TO GROW EACH YEAR, ALONG WITH ADDITIONAL PROGRAM PARTNERSHIPS AND INSURANCE PROVIDERS. THIS HELPS THE SIGHT CENTER ADMINISTER THE PROGRAM TO ADDITIONAL HIGH-RISK INDIVIDUALS, DIVERSE POPULATIONS, AND OUTLYING COMMUNITIES.

VISION REHABILITATION: THE GOAL OF VISION REHABILITATION IS TO IMPROVE QUALITY OF LIFE IN PEOPLE LIVING WITH VISION LOSS. THE CENTER PROVIDES LOW VISION EXAMINATIONS AND PROFESSIONAL FOLLOW-UP TO ADULTS AND CHILDREN WITH REDUCED VISION TO MAINTAIN INDEPENDENCE. RESEARCH STATES THAT 1 OUT OF 3 OLDER ADULTS ARE DIAGNOSED WITH A PROGRESSIVE EYE DISEASE WHICH AFFECTS THEIR VISION AND MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO COMPLETE ACTIVITIES OF DAILY LIVING INDEPENDENTLY. RECRUITMENT EFFORTS FOR A LOW VISION OPTOMETRIST TO REPLACE THE OD CONTINUE TODAY. ALL PATIENTS REFERRED FOR LOW VISION ARE OFFERED A RIDE TO ONE OF TWO LOW VISION SPECIALISTS IN THE SURROUNDING AREA. PATIENTS REFERRED ALSO RECEIVE PHONE CALLS TO ASSESS THEIR SITUATIONS EVERY THREE TO FOUR MONTHS. VERY SOON, WE HOPE TO HAVE A PARTNERSHIP IN PLACE TO PROVIDE THIS MUCH NEEDED SERVICE AT OUR FACILITY.

BLINDNESS SERVICES AND SOCIAL SUPPORT: IN SUPPORT OF ITS MISSION TO PROMOTE INDEPENDENCE IN FY2023, THE SIGHT CENTER PROVIDED 211.5 HOURS OF LIFE SKILLS AND EDUCATION, WHICH IS A 100+% INCREASE FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR. WE DELIVERED 765.35 HOURS OF SUPPORT SERVICES AND 3,562.28 HOURS OF TRANSPORTATION SERVICES. OUR CLIENT CENSUS NUMBER WAS 191 INDIVIDUALS WHO RECEIVED ONGOING SUPPORTIVE SERVICES. BLIND AND LOW VISION YOUNGSTERS AND OLDER ADULTS PARTICIPATED IN BUILDING AND MAINTAINING AN OUTDOOR "SENSORY GARDEN" WITH THE HELP AND SUPPORT OF VOLUNTEERS AND TESS FRAWLEY, OWNER OF EAT YOUR YARD EDIBLE LANDSCAPING. CHILDREN ALSO PARTICIPATED IN AN EDUCATION PROGRAM, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO: TECHNOLOGY ASSISTANCE, CAREER EXPLORATION, RESOURCE SHARING, SOCIALIZATION, AND MUTUAL SUPPORT. EACH YEAR OUR MEMBERS PARTICIPATE IN ENVISION SPORTS CAMP, A WEEKLONG EXPERIENCE WITH 80+ YOUTH. IT IS A HIGHLIGHT FOR THE KIDS AND THE SIGHT CENTER STAFF, WHO ARE ONSITE TO VOLUNTEER, CHEER THEM ON AND THE CENTER ALSO PROVIDES FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR THE PROGRAM. CLIENTS OF THE SIGHT CENTER ARE EVALUATED FOR CHANGING NEEDS AND CHALLENGES AS THEY OCCUR, AND SERVICE PLANS ARE REVIEWED AND UPDATED WITH CLIENTS INDIVIDUALLY ON AN ANNUAL BASIS. REFERRALS ARE MADE TO APPROPRIATE COMMUNITY SERVICE PROGRAMS AND PRIVATE SERVICE PROVIDERS, AS APPROPRIATE.SOCIAL SUPPORT PROGRAMS CONTINUED IN UNCERTAIN TIMES SINCE MARCH 2020. IN FACT, THESE PROGRAMS SAW INCREASED DEMAND AND SERVICES THAT CLIENTS DEPEND ON. SIGHT CENTER DRIVERS AND SOCIAL SERVICE PROVIDERS CONTINUE TO VISIT AND ASSIST OUR OLDER BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED CLIENTS AND HELP THEM MEET THEIR INDEPENDENCE, MEDICAL AND SOCIAL NEEDS. A SPEAKER'S SERIES WAS INITIATED AND VERY WELL ATTENDED. TOPICS INCLUDE EYE HEALTH, LOW-COST TECHNOLOGY, PROMOTING INDEPENDENCE AND QUALITY OF LIFE.