Basic and primary schools across Jamaica will benefit from free vision screening services to be provided by Broadbent Jamaica Limited.

The initiative, ‘Vision for the Future’ will begin with two schools starting this May, ‘Child Month’ and continues until the end of June.  The programme will see Broadbent Jamaica working within basic, preparatory and primary schools for early detection of any eye problems the children may have.

Eye care professionals recommend that an eye examination or vision screening, should always form an integral part of a child’s annual medical and be part of preparations for ‘back-to -school’.   In fact, during the child’s first year, the pediatrician or family doctor routinely checks an infant’s vision and recommends that such examinations should be done up until age 5.

“We want to be proactive in taking care of our children’s eyesight so that we can identify and correct any vision problems as early as possible.  We think it quite possible that certain learning deficiencies may well be due to a child’s poor eyesight in class which is not immediately apparent”, explained Pat Hayle, Assistant Manager at Broadbent.

Broadbent’s Free Vision Screening personnel will be visiting at least one school per month over the next year as part of our ‘Vision for the Future’ campaign. As such, the Company is urging parents and school officials to contact Broadbent if they identify any child with a particular problem.

Broadbent Jamaica Ltd. has eight (8) branches across Jamaica; Kingston, Portmore, Montego Bay, Ocho Rios, St. Ann’s Bay, Port Antonio and Savanna-La-Mar.  The Company provides useful information online at it’s website: www.broadbentja.com and, www.facebook.com/broadbentja.  Parents and teachers are encouraged to read up on tips and pointers to assist them with quick recognition of any real or potential childhood ophthalmic issues.