Bascom Palmer Vision Van Screening Helps Save a Child’s Eyesight
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- Bascom Palmer Eye Institute Vision Vans bring free vision screenings to South Florida.
- A Vision Van screening revealed 5-year-old Zanyla Thomas had cataracts, an extremely rare condition for someone her age.
- Zanyla had surgery at the Bascom Palmer eye hospital in Miami to remove the cataracts.
Bryetta Thomas suspected something was wrong with her young daughter’s vision.
After a visit to the pediatrician failed to provide answers, she took 5-year-old Zanyla to a free community Vision Van screening in West Palm Beach last fall. The Vision Van is an outreach program by Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, part of UHealth – the University of Miami Health System.
That screening and follow-up testing confirmed that Zanyla had congenital cataracts in both eyes. While cataracts are common in older adults, they are rare in children and require specialized surgery.
In February, Ta Chen Peter Chang, M.D., professor of clinical ophthalmology at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, removed the cataract and implanted a special lens in her right eye. Zanyla returned in the spring for the second eye. She now has 20/40 vision — normal vision — in both eyes.
“Now, my daughter can watch TV and see her toys when she plays,” said Thomas. “The team at Bascom Palmer did an awesome job with everything. They really care about helping their patients – kids and adults – achieve the best possible vision for a better future.”
Free Vision Screenings
Throughout the year, Bascom Palmer’s Vision Vans travel to neighborhoods throughout South Florida, bringing free screening services to families. On the day of Zanyla’s initial screening, the mobile vision team screened 180 children at the Palm Beach County Food Bank in partnership with philanthropist Lois Pope as part of her Lois’ Vision4Kids free eye screening program.
“We have registration staff, technicians and doctors giving exams at no cost, and we provide further assistance, if needed,” said Stephanie Gallardo, Bascom Palmer’s coordinator for community outreach.
At the screening, Zanyla was among the 125 children referred for further evaluation for refractive error and strabismus (eye misalignment amblyopia, or “lazy eye”) as well as other serious ocular diseases like cataracts.
Gallardo referred the Thomas family to Michelle Falcone, M.D., assistant professor of clinical ophthalmology at the Miller School and clinical director of Bascom Palmer’s Pediatric Eye Care Community Outreach Program. Dr. Falcone confirmed that Zanyla had cataracts causing visual impairment in both eyes and referred her to Dr. Chang for cataract surgery.
Specialized Cataract Surgery
Several weeks later, Thomas brought Zanyla to Bascom Palmer’s Miami eye hospital to see Dr. Chang, one of the few pediatric cataract surgeons in the state.
“I performed the surgery on her right eye and put in an implant, anticipating that her eye will change as she grows,” Dr. Chang said. “After she recovers, we will operate on her left eye.”
Unlike adults, Dr. Chang said, children with cataracts can’t participate in vision testing, making it more difficult to choose the right lens to implant.
“We can only measure the implant strength after the child is under anesthesia, so we have to have a variety of lenses ready to go when we start the procedure,” he said.
Dr. Chang said early vision screening is vital for uncovering sight-stealing conditions that may be tipped off by subtle behaviors. For instance, a child might start holding things close to her face, not see small things on the floor or find it difficult to focus her gaze.
“A child could have vision loss in one eye – or even be blind in that eye – and appear normal because the other eye compensates,” he added. “Parents should schedule a vision examination with a pediatric eye specialist when their child is between 13 and 18 months and follow up with annual screenings to help protect a child’s vision for life.”
Tags: Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, community health, community outreach, Dr. Michelle Falcone, Dr. Peter Chang, Vision Van