Brandon Prust Foundation invests in vision screening research program

A $100,000 gift from the Brandon Prust Foundation will support a pilot research program that aims to prevent vision impairment in children. London-born NHL player and former London Knight, Brandon Prust, visited the Stoney Creek YMCA on Monday, July 18 to announce the special gift to the St. Joseph’s Health Care Foundation.

The money will support the Ivey Special Eye Examination Service (iSee) Vision Screening Research Program, a Lawson Health Research Institute study at St. Joseph Health Care London’s Ivey Eye Institute. The program aims to examine photoscreening as a useful and rapid tool in identifying children with eye conditions that can cause amblyopia, also known as ‘lazy eye’. By screening for early detection, the hope is that vision impairment can be prevented.

Children aged 18 months to 4 years old can participate in the iSee pilot study by attending screening events in the London area. The Brandon Prust Foundation’s announcement was accompanied by one of these events. The screening is as easy as taking a picture, only taking a few seconds. The camera is able to identify any abnormalities in children’s eyes and then provide immediate results.

“With the support of the Brandon Prust Foundation, the findings from this pilot will be invaluable to providing accessible and early-stage screening to save children’s precious sight,” said Michelle Campbell, President  & CEO, St. Joseph’s Health Care Foundation.

The Brandon Prust Foundation was created in 2014 with a mission to improve kids’ lives, helping them to be happier and healthier through funding events, programs and activities.