‘Eye problems could be affecting Rota students’

By Marconi Calindas
Reporter

The lack of an eye clinic on Rota may be having an impact on the academic performance of some of its students with eye problems who remain undiagnosed and untreated, according to Rota High School guidance counselor Tanya King.

King, who is also an adviser for the National Honor Society, said poor eyesight could affect the learning curve of the children on Rota.

“We don’t have an optical center in Rota. If you can’t see the board then how can you succeed?” King asked in an interview Friday.

King is on Saipan for a series of workshop for counselors in celebration of the CNMI Counselors’ Week.

King said that she observed two years ago that children on Rota were experiencing problems with their eyesight.

“It came to my attention, sort of like an epiphany, how many students have not been succeeding in school because they can’t see well,” she said. “There’s no optical center, so anybody who wants to get glasses needs to go to either Saipan or on Guam.”

Many families, though, do not have the financial resources to shoulder such a trip for an eye examination, said King.

King said that learning is highly affected by what the children could actually see. “I felt that in order for children to be prepared in schools, their eyes have to be tested.”

Though she said that losing clear vision may be considered a natural phenomenon, the problem is that, for most people, taking eye exams and purchasing eyeglasses are a luxury. “Families just do not have the money to go off island,” she said. “There are several aspects to be considered. You have to pay for your ticket, for your child’s ticket for your car rental and for the eye exam itself.”

Luckily, King said that last year she was able to contact an optometrist, Dr. Christian Medina, who owns Ideal Optical on Guam.

Medina first visited Rota in April 2004 and returned for a three-day eye check up in November 2004. Medina was able to see about 300 people on Rota, which included students, workers and the man’amko. King coordinated with Rota Junior High School and the pre-school. She said the optometrist did a preliminary screening and found that there were children who needed additional screening.

King and the National Honor Society solicited some donations for the project and received $1,200, which was used to buy some 60 eyeglasses that were distributed on Rota for free.

The initial recipients of the free eyeglasses were students but King said that they also included the man’amko because a lot of the elderly are afraid to fly and do not have the money to buy the glasses.

Medina will be back on Rota in April for another eye examination, which, King said, is another opportunity for people who have never seen an eye doctor. “He’s going to come again hopefully in April to conduct more eye examinations,” said King. He would bring in his own equipment and set up the examinations on school grounds.

“Now we have little kids who wear eyeglasses who can now have more chances to succeed in school,” said King.

King said that NHS continues to solicit donations so they could buy more eyeglasses. “Please give the gift of sight,” she said.