SAN DIEGO, June 22, 2004 (PRIMEZONE) -- Five-year-old Anthony Barcena of Skyline should have a new, clearer view of life, thanks to the non-profit Save Our Children's Sight program with its EyeMobile for Children, a partnership between the University of California at San Diego's Shiley Eye Center, San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) and the community. Barcena was born with a condition called "ptosis." His eyesight is normal but he cannot use his right eye, because it is obscured by excess skin, putting him at risk for blindness in that eye. Because of the Save Our Children's Sight Program, Barcena will get the operation he needs to correct the condition.
Barcena's eye problem was detected at a vision screening as part of this comprehensive program that includes referral for a full eye exam on the EyeMobile for Children. The EyeMobile is a mobile pediatric eye clinic sponsored by SDG&E, First 5 Commission of San Diego and others. It provides exams for low-income preschoolers at 145 sites throughout San Diego County. The Save Our Children's Sight program, which is the only one of its kind in the San Diego County, has helped more than 20,000 children since its inception in 2000.
"One in four elementary school children has an undetected vision problem that may impact their learning," said Professor Barbara Brody, director of the division of Community Ophthalmology at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD), Shiley Eye Center. "When children have vision problems, they sometimes think it is normal, because they have always seen the world as fuzzy or unfocused. They also are too young to communicate that they have problems. When eyesight is impaired and not corrected early in young children, it can impact their brain, and they can develop permanent vision loss and/or have difficulty learning."
Through the Save Our Children's Sight program, specially trained staff members and volunteers at Head Start programs and low-income preschools perform simple tests to find out which children are "at risk."
Children who fail the screening tests receive a complete eye examination in the EyeMobile for Children, a colorful vehicle complete with teddy bears wearing glasses, and eye charts with images instead of letters. If needed, children can pick out glasses provided by the Lions Clubs. They also may be referred to a pediatric ophthalmologist at the Ratner Children's Eye Center at the UCSD Shiley Eye Center or another local eye doctor. Then, the children are treated for conditions such as strabismus (poorly aligned eyes), tumors or cataracts.
"We were really impressed by this program, because it concentrates on helping children under six improve their eyesight so they can learn better in school and then do better in life," said Kimberly Freeman, director of community relations for SDG&E.
"SDG&E is truly making a difference in the present and future lives of many little children in our community," added Brody.
Mary Garcia agreed. Her 4-year-old, Sonny, had vision problems she never knew about: "I will never forget his expression when he walked outside with his glasses for the first time and said, 'Mommy, now I can see the birds.'"
Each year, more than 100,000 children in the United States go blind needlessly, simply because they did not receive appropriate eye care. The Save Our Children's Sight program is attempting to solve this problem in San Diego County. To learn more, call Linda Field at (858) 822-2831.
SDG&E is a regulated public utility that provides safe and reliable energy service to three million consumers through 1.3 million electric meters and more than 800,000 natural gas meters in San Diego and southern Orange counties. Exceptional customer service is a priority of SDG&E as it seeks to enhance the region's quality of life. SDG&E is a regulated subsidiary of Sempra Energy (NYSE:SRE). Sempra Energy, based in San Diego, is a Fortune 500 energy services holding company. To learn more, go to www.sdge.com.