Vision Mobile Focuses on Students In Need

Yvonne Debottis was concerned last week when the school nurse at Hudson Middle called to say her 11-year-old son might have vision problems and was bringing home paperwork to set up an exam.

With finances tight these day, she didn’t see how she could fit this into the family budget.

“I can’t afford glasses right now,” she told the nurse.

Not to worry, the nurse said. The exam and the eyeglasses would be free, courtesy of the Glazer Family Foundation Vision Mobile.

As promised, the Vision Mobile appeared Thursday at Bayonet Point Middle School, where optometrist Francisco Richardson examined more than 30 students from elementary and middle schools throughout the area.

“I appreciate this program,” Debottis said. “It’s great.”

The eye exam office on wheels travels throughout Central Florida, from Daytona to St. Petersburg, said Richardson, who is assisted by Donald Trenholm. Trenholm drives, fits students for glasses and handles the paperwork.

Students pick out frames from several on display and in about a week their glasses are mailed to the school.

The Glazer family owns the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, so the Vision Mobile’s interior sports a Bucs decor, and conversation pieces include a helmet, shoulder pads, a cleat and a Kellen Winslow jersey.

Lisa Kern, who supervises school nurses for the Pasco County school district, said 107 students in Pasco are set to receive exams, and 36 of those were scheduled for appointments Thursday at Bayonet Point Middle.

The Vision Mobile will be at Cox Elementary in Dade City next week, she said.

Students were chosen based on financial need and when routine vision screenings at school indicated they might have a problem.

“For most of them, it saves them a trip to the eye doctor,” Kern said. “This is also free, which is wonderful.”

Some of the students, such as Frank Renna, 13, a Bayonet Point seventh-grader, already wear glasses, but this was a chance to update prescriptions.

Others, such as Denise Hogge, 12, also a Bayonet Point seventh-grader, have never had glasses. Denise wasn’t keen on the idea of eyewear, but she is happy for the chance to rid herself of headaches and blurry vision.

“I’m excited that it will help,” she said.

Debottis’ son Joseph Kenny, a sixth-grader, hadn’t realized he had a vision problem until he was tested at school.

After his exam Thursday morning, Joseph eagerly tried on a pair of frames.

“Look in the mirror,” his mother said.

He complied, grinned sheepishly at his reflection and quickly whipped the frames off.

A few moments later, he tried another pair and nodded after examining his new look in the mirror.

His mother nodded, too.

“I like those,” she said.

Courtesy of the Tampa Tribune.