MEDIA ALERT

WHAT:                

Sixth annual "See to Read Summerfest” family-friendly event featuring Portland storyteller Rick Huddle. Event includes free vision screenings, free rides, free food and more for children ages 3 to 7.

WHEN:                

Saturday, June 17, from 10 a.m. to noon

WHERE:             

Oaks Park (Dance Pavilion), 7805 S.E. Oaks Park Way, Portland

DETAILS:      

Children ages 3 to 7 and their families are invited to participate in the OHSU Elks Children's Eye Clinic "See to Read Summerfest” event, which includes free vision screenings, amusement park ride wristbands for kids who are screened, hotdogs for the first 250 participants, carnival games, balloons, clowns and face painting. Portland storyteller Rick Huddle will also be performing.

The Oregon Legislature passed a law in 2014 requiring that all children entering kindergarten show proof of vision screening. OHSU Elks Children’s Eye Clinic is offering free vision screenings to help parents and caretakers get their children screened in time for school. Here’s why vision screening for children matters:

• As many as 15 percent of all preschoolers have an undetected vision problem that requires treatment with glasses. 
• The best time to treat children for eye disease is between ages 3 and 5. 
• Some eye diseases, such as amblyopia (lazy eye), can be reversed if detected before age 5.

Trained vision screeners from the Oregon Elks Preschool Vision Screening team will perform the screenings.

**If you are a member of the media and are planning to attend, please email Ariane Le Chevallier at holma@ohsu.edu to arrange for a media pass.**