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February 2022 Newsletter

This month President Ciszek focuses on low vision and AMD, we congratulate Dominican Republic on its national day, share an invitation for the launch of the VOSH-Fumvision clinic, share important publications on children's vision, share a fascinating timeline of black optometry and more.

President's Insights

Patients are often very nervous and have lot of questions when they have a family member that is diagnosed with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) or when they are first told that they have macular drusen. This month President Ciszek highlights the important work optometrists do detecting, treating and educating on AMD and low vision. Read the whole article here

Congratulations

Dominican Republic is a country close to our hearts. VOSH chapters active in this country include VOSH-Southeast, VOSH-NE, VOSH-IA, VOSH-WI, VOSH-ONE and SVOSH-NECO. They work in close collaboration with local partners there. Since 2019, there is also an active local chapter, VOSH-FUMVISION. We also enjoy a growing collaboration with the school of optometry at the Universidad Tecnológica de Santiago (UTESA) that received a significant donation of equipment from our Technology Transfer Prgoram (TTP) at the end of 2021. Congratulations to our Dominican colleagues. VOSH/International will continue working with you to achieve good vision for all.

Invitation-VOSH-FUMVISION-Dominican Republic opens clinic in Santiago

After many years of work, FUMVISION is pleased to announce the launch of its permanent clinic in Santiago, Dominican Republic. They will mark the occasion with a week of outreach activities in three rural municipalities starting on April 17th. VOSH volunteers are welcomed to join in and support this work. For more information please contact Enyel Rodriguez, President VOSH-FUMVISION-DR at fundacionporunamejorvision@hotmail.com

Mural at the entrance of the clinic to raise awareness through art.

Great publications on children's vision you should not miss

The Asian-Pacific Journal of Ophthalmology has published a great selection on downloadable papers on this important topic. These are (click on the links):

-Lessons Learned From School-Based Delivery of Vision Care in Baltimore, Maryland.

-Recognizing Eye Health as an Integral Part of Children's School Health Throughout the World.

-The Impact of Hyperopia on Academic Performance Among Children: A Systematic Review.

-The Impact of Near Vision Impairment on Activities of Daily Living Across the Life Course

-Vision Screening, Vision Disorders, and Impacts of Hyperopia in Young Children: Outcomes of the Vision in Preschoolers (VIP) and Vision in Preschoolers – Hyperopia in Preschoolers (VIP-HIP) Studies

and if you are subscribed to Optometry and Vision Science, you can read:

-Detection of Significant Hyperopia in Preschool Children Using Two Automated Vision Screeners

Webinar -Launch of WHO-ITU Toolkit for myopia (mMyopia)

It is estimated that myopia affects 2.6 billion people. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) have developed "A toolkit on how to implement mMyopia".

The toolkit includes messages, guidance and resources to establish a digital health program targeting education on myopia and its prevention.

The webinar is on March 15. you can register here

President of VOSH-Santa Cruz is awarded the Canadian Meritorious Service Medal

Father Pierre Labine founder of VOSH-Santa Cruz has been awarded the Meritorious Service Medal by the Governor General of Canada for his role in bringing eye care to those who need it. Congratulations Father Pierre!. Read more here

Celebrating the history of black ODs

Dr Essence Johnson created this incredible timeline (only first part shown below) of Black History in Optometry starting in 1912. Featured by the Herbert Wertheim School of Optometry &Vision Science at Berkeley. Check more information here .