Andrew has amblyopia, an eye condition where one eye "sees" significantly different from the other eye. This causes the brain to cease using the weaker eye. In this Burnsville preschooler's case, his right eye sees 20/20, but his left eye, at 20/200, was hardly being used. Amblyopia is an "unseen" eye disease, because no one - not even the most attentive parent - can tell his or her child has it except through a vision test. Indeed, Andrew's parents did not know anything was wrong until the Sight & Hearing Association screened their son.

Shortly before SHA offered vision and hearing screening at his preschool, Andrew had his pre-Kindergarten screening through the school district. During the vision screening, he did not want to cover up his right eye for the screening. (In hindsight, it was because he couldn't see with only his left eye.) The person performing the test dismissed it as Andrew just being "too tired of all the testing." Andrew's mom, Bonnie Meyer, was told not to be concerned.

Two weeks later, when Bonnie saw the results of the screening by SHA at his preschool, (the Child Development and Learning Center (CDLC) in Burnsville), she immediately called Andrew's pediatrician, who referred her right away to Eye Physicians and Surgeons in Burnsville. There, Andrew saw Dr. Jeffrey Stephens, an ophthalmologist who also happens to be on SHA's board of directors.

"Dr. Stephens basically told us that if we would have waited until Andrew was 7- or 8-years-old, he would have been legally blind," Bonnie said. "Between the Sight & Hearing Association and CDLC [Andrew's preschool], you literally saved my son's eyesight." To treat an amblyopic eye, a patch is commonly used to cover the stronger eye, which forces the weaker eye to work. Glasses are also another corrective tool. In Andrew's case, he is now wearing glasses full time and a patch for four hours a day. Andrew wears the patch over his right eye to force the left eye to work. He'll most likely have to wear the patch until age 10.

Andrew has grown accustomed to it, though.

"We went from coming home from the doctor's office the first day with him saying 'Mom, I can't see you,' to him now being able to see things across the room," explained Bonnie.

And his glasses?

"He loves them. We walked out of the store and he said, 'Mom, everything looks so big!'" Because of his improved vision, Bonnie has noticed significant changes in the things Andrew can do, like play on the computer.

"We have several games, like Thomas the Tank Engine, where fine motor skills are required. He had a difficult time before, but now he can do it all."

And, like other 4-year-olds, Andrew continues to play ball, ride his bike like a maniac, create artwork and play with his new puppy.

Bonnie is grateful for the screening and her son's improving vision.

"Everything you guys do and all that we've learned has just been priceless," Bonnie said. "I think everyone should have this [screening] done. It's unfortunate that we only put immunizations on a schedule; I think vision should be on a schedule too. I truly am thankful for everything that's been done for him."

To help those children who are referred for vision problems but can't afford glasses, SHA, for the third year, offered the Vision Voucher Project for Kids. Through this program, SHA offers uninsured or under-insured low-income children vouchers for a free eye exam and glasses. Last year, 916 vouchers were issued and 227 were redeemed.

SHA also was active screening adults for visual acuity, glaucoma and hearing. Each month, SHA partners with Vision Loss Resources and the University of Minnesota's Department of Communication Disorders to screen senior citizens. Medica's Speaking of Women's Health conference, the Healthy Seniors Program of Lutheran Social Services of Carver County, and Good Age newspaper senior health event are a few of the other opportunities SHA had to reach adults.

SHA was in the forefront of spreading our message via research-related awareness campaigns. For example, our research into noisy toys and resulting media coverage helped educate parents on the dangers of loud toys. Last year, approximately one million people heard messages regarding the dangers of noisy toys, the importance of protecting their hearing from noise, and general guidelines surrounding fireworks eye safety around the Fourth of July. In August, MPLS.ST.PAUL magazine, the region's leading lifestyle magazine, partnered with SHA for the sixth year to produce a special section focused on sight and hearing issues. In addition, our Web site at www.sightandhearing.org continues to generate requests for information from people worldwide.

Did you know ...?
… Due to budget cuts in a number of metro area school districts and the resulting downsizing in school nurse programs, SHA stepped in and filled a critical health screening void that was imminent. SHA worked with the schools to accomplish the screening, identification, and referral of children at risk for vision and hearing problems before those problems could interfere with learning. In 2003, SHA screened 16,262 children. This was our biggest year ever - and we continue to grow.

… Through creative partnering, SHA has been able to provide vision vouchers for low-income families so their children can get the glasses they need to be productive learners. In 2003, that resulted in 227 children being able to get the services and the glasses they desperately need.

… This is the sixth consecutive year that SHA has worked with the University of Minnesota in our campaign to inform gift givers and protect our children from the noisiest (and most hearing-harmful) toys on the market at Christmas time. This year, the worst offending, noisiest toys were those intended for our youngest children -- those who are least able to move away and protect themselves from the long-term damaging effects of noise. We also provide other seasonal public service and safety alerts like our fireworks eye safety campaign in the summer, rock concert/sports event levels, and International Noise Awareness Day.

… SHA is hard at work serving the adult community with corporate wellness programs, health fair screenings, and senior center awareness/screening activities. To see for yourself, feel free to check out the on-line vision screening capabilities that we provide on our Web site or look through our newsletter archive the next time you want to check out the noise level of a restaurant before making reservations.

… SHA is the only organization in the country working toward the prevention of, rather than the adaptation to, vision and hearing loss.

Most important of all, did you know that SHA is funded almost entirely through individual donations? That means we couldn't do it without you.

If you are reading this for the first time, it is probably because we screened your child at his or her day care or school; maybe we provided education and screening for your company's health fair; perhaps we presented an education and screening program to your mother or father at their senior center. Thank you. Thank you for your contribution and for understanding how vital our mission is to the health and well-being of our community. To our long-time friends and supporters, we again want to say a special thanks. Because of you and your support we have been able to carry on, expanding our reach deeper into our community with innovative programs and services - building on those successes year after year.

As we publish this annual report highlighting our activities and accomplishments this past year, I look with pride to all that has been accomplished and how the programs have flourished. Thank you to a great staff who have worked so diligently and been such good stewards of the SHA mission. Thank you to my fellow board members for allowing me to serve as president for the past three years - the dedication you all show is remarkable (and very appreciated). It has been an honor and a privilege to serve this organization and to have been part of this amazing growth. I look forward to continuing this mission from the other side of the board table.

Sincerely,

Karen M. Arnold
2003 President