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u - wanna“) (zuaoNicus - Wednesday. lkcernber 26,2012 Eye See Eye Learn WM“ New program ofl'ersfi'ee eye exams and free prescnpuonsfor kids In Humor-Alan . ~ w » Q ,_.‘ Miami. J“ is Celebrating the new year ision is an important part of "‘ '; ‘ ».. f “5 witl] me City ofWaterloo s [- learning. yet 93 per cent ofchil- “t‘ - . z _ ’ ' . dren under the age of five have . 4 I j .. . New Years Eve is just around the corner. so never had a proper eye exam. accord ; , ‘> -' ‘ 2.1, ‘ celebrate with family and friends at a number of ing to the Ontario Association of fify i V; . ‘ free events and activities taking place at City of Optometrists (OAO). . ‘\ \_ .. Waterloo facilities. A new program that is spreading ' AK \\ "Waterloo is_a lively, vibrant city with much to across theoountry hopes to reverse this = ' v see and do," said Nancy Hall-lupp, supervisor of trend by offering free eye exams and is, x"; the city‘s leisure and active living programs "Vt/ith free prescription glasses to children in j k» , -_ '\ swimming, skating. children's entertainment and junior kindergarten. _ 7 it» fireworks on the agenda, New Year's Eve is no "We recognize that 80 per cent of " in? exception.” learning happens through vision and A family celebration in Waterloo Public Square that 10 per cent of children, pre- will run from 6 p.m. â€" 10 p.m. on Dec. 31, with schoolers specifically, have undetected ‘ a, music and skating on the outdoor rink. Kids who vision problems.” said Waterloo Zw';‘.',,,‘_ m can‘t stay up until the clock su'ikes midnight can optometrist Karen MacDonald. 1-3 ”u " â€" ~ - ‘ take part'in an earlier countdown at 9 p.m. “That means there are no real clues Kristine Snyder, 11, gets her eyes checked by Karen MacDonald, 3 Waterloo Ventnloquist Tim Holland the Puppet Tamer to parents or educators that this child optometrist. MacDonald and other optometrists who are members of the Ontario Will be hosting N0 shows over the course Of the is not seeing well. Children assume Association of Optometrists will be giving free exams and glasses to children enter- night that Will leave you laughing. The first show that what they see is normal, and so ing junior kindergarten next year. will start at 7 p.m. Then at 8:30 pm. everyone will they’re not always apt to tell you that WWW be amazed by his flmjussllngskills. This entertain- something seems wrong." Detecting and treatingeye problems as the result of ESEL. . . we can provide ment W1“ “it the “38° f°" the free ginger ale The Eye See... Eye Learn (ESEL) at a young age is vital. according to the picture the brain needs to make “champagne t“St- followed by the ”(W011 Inc. program started in Alberta but will MacDonald. and can help reverse those cells develop and grow big and fireworks d‘SPhY- ‘ . . launch in Kitchener-Waterloo and sur- some vision issues and prevent Iife- strong, and that changes their visual Free indoor public skating W1" be held at the rounding areas on luly 1. 2013. long damage that can result from hav- potential in that eye for life." Waterloo Memorial Recreation Complex and RIM ‘lhrough the program. parents can take ing a lazy eye. Some schools already provide vision Park’s Manuhfe Fmancial 5001139“?! from 7 P-m- 'â€" their child to any “Lazy eye doesn’t screenings, but these are not adequate 9 p.m. These events haw: been SCHCTOUSlY SP0"- optometrist that is a “P IS do it always mean that the to detect vision problems, according to sored by'llm "011.0“? _ member of GAO and get are" _ n eye is crossed or turning MacDonald. PM DUN“? mmmms Will also be offered at‘the an eye exam and glass- alway think of in visibly. lazy eye just "Thirty per cent of the time they are Waterloo Memorial Recreation Complexs Swrm- cs, if necessary. for free. thei childr n's means that for some giving false reassurances that things are pie! from 7 DJ.“ â€"* 8:30PM . . . . “Parents don't always r e reason a child might fine when they're not," she said. For more information, please V's“ the CltYS think of their children's eyes when they have one eye that is not “The solution to the problem is a “bill“? or contact Nancy .Hall-]upp at 519-886- eycs when they start start SChOOl receiving a good signal. full exam through an optometrist with 1177- ext. 270 Of nanchiall-jupp0waterlooca. school. It's just often . ' It could just mean that the ESEL program. where it's accessi» - . overlooked that this It’SJust often that eye is blurry." said ble. it's easy and it's completely paid Christlnas tree would be a necessary n MacDonald. for." part of starting their overlooked When a young child Children who are entering junior piCkup Starts Dec. 31 child off in school on a _ “it“ Munch.“ is not seeing clearly kindergarten in 2013 are eligible for the . . u . strong foot.” said Mac- local amonmml helping through one eye, the program. and parents can schedule an 127 523830" ofWaterIoobewfil pick ueitzidtscarded, Donald. m hump, 133,91. brain will shut off the appointment with an OAO optometrist "a“; "5“er to 11 compo?! ' h . "The C051 is also a Eyeleam project, signal and brain cells any time between luly l, 2013 and lune 0 ensure cu 5' e co ecuon 0 your C nst- factor. CHIP does cover associated with the 30, 2014. Teachers are also expected to mas tree. remove all plastic bag, decorations, tin- children up until they visiop'in that eye fail to hand out information about the pm- ”I and stands, place your tree out (0 the curb by 7 turn 20. So the t‘yt‘ exam has always properly develop. according to Mac- gram at the beginning of the school am. on your regular collection (13W cut large "995 been covered. We're fortunate in Donald. year. '“ half. do not place your tree 0" top of or behind (llllarIO that way. But if a parent even “if that's not caught by the time Eye exams are covered for these snowbanks , suspects that the eye exam may lead to they're eight or IO. that's permanent, children under CHIP. and if the child The Regional curbside 2012/20]? Christmas ii need for glasses. then there are per- and it doesn't matter what glasses an requires glasses they will receive them tree 00mm" mmm' Waterloo 5 Dec. 3] to hops some economic barriers there as optometrist puts in front of them as an free under ESEL Ian. 5“ re will be no ection on Ian. L _ well. So ESEl. removes all economic adult, they will not see well in that eye.” For more information visit For more information call 519-883-5111) or visrt barriers to ensuring the child is tested she said. www.eyeseeeyelearn.ca or call 1-855- www.regionofwaterloo.cal waste. and receives the proper treatment." “On the other hand. if they come in 4244-51-21. (3735). Kitchener: . iv ’;" z n! H! f-. 519-579-3495 0 w I“? :'.. «if Hr: M 519-896-6585 Waterloo: .'1 '.'.‘ l)" fit '1 111 i it: 519-884-2828