Every year Dr. Garmon and Dr. Spangle volunteer their time at local elementary schools to provide vision screenings to 1st and 3rd grade students. While this does not replace a comprehensive eye exam, it does give the doctor a good idea if glasses or further vision testing are needed. Kids who do not see well may likely have problems in the classroom. The Drs. inform the school nurse when it is recommended a student be seen for a comprehensive exam. The school then notifies the parent(s)/ guardian(s) that the student be referred to an eyecare provider. These schools include: Webster, Menominee, Jefferson, LaVille, Oregon Davis and Knox.

"I’m a passionate about providing quality school vision screenings because kids don’t know that they can’t see! In their mind this is how everyone sees because it is all they know. Also, many kids can “pass” a visual acuity test and still need glasses. Quality vision is more than just reading 20/20. It matters how hard a kid’s eyes are having to work to get that 20/20 vision. This can lead to kids not wanting to read or do their near work because their eyes are tired/ strained but they don’t know how to communicate that. Instead, the child gets labeled as inattentive or a poor reader, when in reality it’s just that their eyes aren’t working together or are working so hard. Imagine if you had to curl a 5lb weight all day. In the morning it’s easy and it feels like you could do it all day. But by the end of the day your arm is tired, aching, and begging you to drop the weight. Your child’s eye muscles could be going through the same thing. I think it’s important to do my part in helping to remove as many barriers kids have in order to help them reach their full potential." -Dr. Allison Garmon

Bright Eyes welcomes patients of all ages. The American Optometric Association recommends an initial exam for children at 6 months of age. This examination is to identify anything present that would interfere with healthy eye development. The AOA further recommends a comprehesive exam at age 3 and then Kindergarten age (5-6 years old). Dr. Garmon and Dr. Spangle recommend yearly comprehensive eye exams for children because just as a child's body is growing and changing so are the eyes. Determining a need for corrective lenses earlier is better when it comes to meeting the goal of healthy vision for life.