ATLANTA – (August 5, 2024) – Prevent Blindness Georgia (PBGA) is proud to announce the launch of the Pediatric Eye Care Ensuring Georgia’s Children Reach Their Full Potential or the PEEP Program. This is a comprehensive vision health program designed to provide essential eye care services to children in underserved rural areas.
This innovative program aims to address the growing concern of potentially undiagnosed and untreated vision problems among children living in rural regions. By offering free certified vision screenings, comprehensive eye exams, prescription eyeglasses, and educational resources, the PEEP program seeks to improve the academic performance and the quality of life of these children.
Shavette Turner, Vice President of Children’s Vision Services at PBGA, emphasized the importance of this program: “Every child deserves the chance to see clearly and succeed both in school and in life. Vision problems can significantly impact a child’s development and learning. By launching the PEEP program, we are taking a crucial step in bridging the gap in healthcare access for children in rural areas.”
“The nearest provider is over an hour away” Tara Cantell, a school social worker in Fannin County states. Cantrell goes on to explain why the PEEP program is needed within their community, “Our students and families cannot afford to miss instruction time in class and work and wages to make the appointments. By providing these services, students were able to ensure their vision needs were met and parents did not have to miss income that their families depend on.”
The program initially rolled out in Fannin County at the Back-to-School Fair hosted at the Fannin County High School on July 27, 2024. In total, 38 children were seen by Dr. Sarah D. Lee and Dr. Shundale Mixon – two optometrists from the Metro Atlanta area. Discussing her experience at the event Dr. Mixon states, “There were quite a few kids who had high prescriptions and amblyopia that needed to see someone in 3 – 6 months. I absolutely believe this is an amazing project and should be continued throughout Georgia.”
There are plans to expand this program to many rural counties in the coming years. This initiative is made possible through the generous support of PBGA’s donors, who are committed to being champions of vision health for all Georgians.
For more information about the PEEP program, please contact Shavette Turner, VP of CVS at [email protected] or 404-273-3379.
About Prevent Blindness Georgia
Founded in 1965, Prevent Blindness Georgia (PBGA) is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to preserve sight and prevent blindness for all Georgians. Our goal is to have no Georgians needlessly lose their eyesight from preventable vision loss. We offer an array of services designed to provide a continuum of care at the local level throughout the state for children and economically disadvantaged adults. The organization works to educate and advocate for better eye health and safety and to train others about best practices in vision screening. Through the support of generous donors, Prevent Blindness Georgia offers its services free of charge to those it serves. To learn more, visit: www.georgia.preventblindness.org.
