THE SIGHT CENTER OF NORTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA

PREVENTION OF BLINDNESS: RESEARCH CONFIRMS THAT 25% OF CHILDREN ENTER KINDERGARTEN WITH A VISUAL CONDITION THAT IMPEDES LEARNING. AS PART OF OUR MISSION TO PREVENT BLINDNESS, THE CENTER PROVIDED 1,576 PEDIATRIC VISION SCREENINGS AND 923 YOUTH WERE EDUCATED IN PRE-SCHOOLS, CHILD-CARE CENTERS AND KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION EVENTS IN OUR SEVEN-COUNTY SERVICE AREA FROM JULY 1, 2024 THROUGH JUNE 30, 2025. ROUGHLY 8% OF CHILDREN SCREENED FAILED THE SCREENINGS AND WERE REFERRED FOR FOLLOW-UP WITH AN EYE CARE PROFESSIONAL. PARENTS/GUARDIANS OF ALL CHILDREN WHO FAILED SCREENINGS WERE CONTACTED WITH A CALL AND A REFERRAL LETTER AND THEN AGAIN AT 30,60 AND 90 DAYS TO SUPPORT EYE HEALTH LITERACY FOR PARENTS AND POST-SCREENING TO ENSURE CARE WAS PROVIDED TO THE CHILD. THIS SIGHT CENTER REFERRAL RATE MATCHES THE NATIONAL BENCHMARKS OF 6-8%.IN SUPPORT OF ITS MISSION TO PREVENT BLINDNESS, IN 2017 THE SIGHT CENTER IMPLEMENTED THE NATIONAL DIABETES PREVENTION PROGRAM (NDPP) CREATED AND SPONSORED BY THE NATIONAL CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION (CDC). DIABETES IS THE LEADING CAUSE OF SEVERE AND PERMANENT VISION LOSS IN WORKING-AGE ADULTS. BY PREVENTING OR DELAYING THE ON-SET OF TYPE 2 DIABETES, WE PREVENT OR DELAY DIABETES-RELATED DAMAGE TO THE EYES. THE CENTER RECEIVED AND MAINTAINED FULL NATIONAL CDC RECOGNITION FOR THIS PROGRAM FOR TEN DATA SUBMISSON CYCLES BETWEEN 2017 AND 2021. FULL-PLUS RECOGNITION WAS AWARDED IN 2022 AND CONTINUES THROUGH 2027 MAKING THE CENTER'S PROGRAM ONE OF ONLY A HANDFUL IN THE NATION WITH THAT DESIGNATION. WITH CONTINUED QUALITY COMPLIANCE, THIS STANDING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 2027 WHEN A RE-EVALUATION WILL TAKE PLACE. PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS SUCCESSFULLY GRADUATE WITH WEIGHT LOSS AT OR IN EXCESS OF THE PRESCRIBED 5-7% AND INCREASE THEIR EXERCISE TO A MINIMUM OF 150 MINUTES PER WEEK. PARTICIPATION CONTINUES TO GROW EACH YEAR, ALONG WITH ADDITIONAL PROGRAM PARTNERSHIPS AND INSURANCE PROVIDERS. THIS HELPS THE SIGHT CENTER ADMINISTER THE PROGRAM TO ADDITIONAL HIGH-RISK INDIVIDUALS, DIVERSE POPULATIONS, AND OUTLYING COMMUNITIES. NEW ENDEAVORS INCLUDE: RECOGNIZED BY THE CDC AS A NATIONAL LEADER IN LASTING LIFESTYLE CHANGE INTERVENTIONS (MAY 2025), AND REACHING BEYOND NATIONAL PROGRAM STANDARDS OF EXCELLENCE, THE SIGHT CENTER ESTABLISHED MONTHLY NATIONAL DPP PROGRAM GRADUATE SUPPORT GROUP MEETINGS - BECAUSE POSITIVE LIFESTYLE CHANGE IS FOR A LIFETIME.

VISION REHABILITATION: THE GOAL OF VISION REHABILITATION IS TO IMPROVE QUALITY OF LIFE IN PEOPLE LIVING WITH VISION LOSS. THE CENTER PROVIDES LOW VISION EXAMINATIONS AND PROFESSIONAL FOLLOW-UP TO ADULTS AND CHILDREN WITH REDUCED VISION TO MAINTAIN INDEPENDENCE. RESEARCH STATES THAT 1 OUT OF 3 OLDER ADULTS ARE DIAGNOSED WITH A PROGRESSIVE EYE DISEASE WHICH AFFECTS THEIR VISION AND MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO COMPLETE ACTIVITIES OF DAILY LIVING INDEPENDENTLY. RECRUITMENT EFFORTS FOR A LOW VISION OPTOMETRIST HAVE LED US TO A NEW PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR SISTER PAB AGENCY, VISABILITY. THIS HAS ENABLED THE CENTER TO HAVE LIMITED ACCESS TO A LOW VISION SPECIALIST AND BEGIN TO SEE PATIENTS AGAIN AND PROVIDE ACCESS TO ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY TO HELP IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR THOSE WITH LOW VISION IN OUR COMMUNITY. WE HOPE TO GROW THIS PARTNERSHIP TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FOR THIS MUCH NEEDED SERVICE AT OUR FACILITY.