Eye Screening Day for over 300 learners
Early detection and treatment of eye problems can be life-changing in so many cases.
More than 300 learners from various schools in Mamelodi and Eersterust visited The Grove mall for a free eye screening, spectacles and a movie experience on Thursday.
The eye screening day for learners, aged between 8 and 13 years, was organised by The Grove mall, Ster-Kinekor theatres and Torga Optical as part of National Eye Care awareness day.
Grove marketing manager Christopher Hutchings said the objective was to reach out to people who would not otherwise have access to much needed eye screening and awareness of eye health.
Ster-Kinekor’s flagship CSI initiative focuses on eyecare under the name Vision Mission.
“The learners underwent an eye screening by the Torga Optical optometrists team, after which The Grove treated them to a movie as well as popcorn and cool drink combos,” said Hutchings.
He said the screening by the Torga Optical team will identify learners that present some form of visual impairment.
Principals of the participating schools will arrange for these learners to have a more detailed assessment with the Torga Optical team and Ster-Kinekor will cover the cost of purchasing spectacles for these learners.
Ster-Kinekor CSI and transformation specialist Geraldine Engelman said early detection and treatment of eye problems can be life-changing in so many cases.
She said Vision Mission aims to provide critical eyecare to as many youths as possible.
“Blindness can result in poorer education, social isolation and increased poverty,” she said.
Hutchings said there was something very special in bringing 300 learners for their eye test while making it fun and memorable by including a cinema experience, which most had never experienced.
“Let’s not forget the amazing part that Ster-Kinekor will actually be purchasing spectacles for learners identified with visual impairments. Our cinema was voted best cinema in Pretoria and we cannot wait to have these learners experience all we have to offer,” he concluded.
The participating schools were Emthunzini, Bohlabatsatsi, PS Fourie primary schools together with Mamelodi East pre-vocational and Tshegofatsong special school.
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