For parents, knowing what resources are available in your community is key to keeping your child happy and healthy. Access to care can have a major impact on how a child sees and experiences the world.

We had the chance to talk to a mother about her experience in getting her young daughter glasses. She indicated that she first suspected something was up with her daughter’s eyes when her daughter would hold the Smartphone up close to her face.

When the opportunity arose to get her daughter’s vision screened for free in San Carlos, she did it. The results indicated that it would be a good idea to have her daughter’s eyes further looked at for a closer inspection.

The pediatrician in Peridot referred her daughter to see pediatrician optometrist (children eye specialist) in Mesa at the Phoenix Children Hospital. There, she was able to get her daughter’s eyes looked at in detail and determined that she did indeed need glasses.

When we asked the mother if she noticed a difference in her daughter wearing glasses, she responded by saying “Yes! She doesn’t point at things and call them by the wrong name as before. And she is interested in the TV and what’s on the TV now.”

When asked how long the process from getting her daughter screened to wearing glasses, she replied “a few months.” “The longest part of the process was waiting for the prescription glasses to come in.”

When we asked what were some of her tips or advice she could give to other parents she stated, “You have nothing to lose if you get your child’s vision screened for free here in San Carlos: It’s the first step in changing how they see everything, if they do need glasses.”

For families who have children between the ages of 1-5, the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension offers free screenings and help in navigating the system. Home and office visits are available

Please call Thuy Bishop at 928 475- 2350 or email tbishop@email.arizona.edu to schedule your appointment.