Sight testing

Before we left Canada we received a very generous gift of an eye test kit from First Sight of Omaha, NE. Here are some of the results from our testing last week in a school. Most of the children we saw were both mentally handicapped and very impaired visually. The results were good. One little boy (in a regular class) was restored to 20/20 vision. He is in grade 4 but can't read because he had never been able to see clearly. The others had vastly improved vision (20/40 from virtually nothing) We really think some would be classed as close to legally blind.
It was good to see them lift their heads and smile. Because of their vision and their shyness it was very difficult at first to have them even look at us or the charts. The teachers stayed and assisted us all the time, which was essential. Both the small girl and the older boy in the pictures could only squint sideways in an effort to focus when they first came in. The girl was unable to open one of her eyes fully. You can see her sitting up straight and happy in the picture.
We go to a rural hospital next Wednesday for testing with adults.
The testing is being done in collaboration with the Rotary Club of Maseno The teacher in the school is a Rotarian as is the doctor at the hospital.
We were assisted by two American missionaries who were very impressed by the possibilities of the kit and would recommend it for anyone coming to Africa.
BTW we tested ten children Two had no vision problems and one was so mentally handicapped that we could not conduct the test at all.