Are you a parent who has googled the Foureyes Foundation because your child got sent home a notice from school? Welcome! We hope you find the answers you need below! If not, please feel free to CONTACT US.
Where are your clinics and do you have plans for more?
At the moment we have 4 clinics: Whaiora, Masterton; Poneke Medical Centre, Wellington; Maraeroa, Porirua; and Dargaville Medical, Dargaville. We’re eyeing up new locations in the communities we know really need them but our expansion depends on funding and support. We’ll get there!
How do your clinics work?
Our volunteer optometrists travel between our 4 clinics each month. We organise vision screening days with local schools and can screen about 200 kids a day with our special machine called the PlusOptix. The screening allows us to identify children who require a full eye test. We then refer them to one of our clinics for an eye test, and provide them with glasses if they need them. This is all free, provided by our Foundation and the generosity of our sponsors.
Doesn’t the government provide free eye testing? Why do I need the Foureyes Foundation to do it?
Yes, there is a free national vision screening programme, run by the Ministry of Health, for pre-school children and at age 11-12 (Year 7). The B4 School Check includes a vision screening for amblyopia (lazy eye). At 11 or 12, children have their distance vision checked and boys are also checked for colour blindness.
Problems with near vision are not covered at any stage, plus children’s eyesight can also change a lot between ages 4 and 11 (which can make those years in between pretty tricky for a kid with eyesight issues).
The New Zealand Association of Optometrists recommends that children have their eyes examined at 6 to 12 months, again at age 2 to 3, before starting school, and then through their school years as indicated by vision screening or school performance. If you’re worried about your child’s vision, it’s important to get it checked by an optometrist.
I’ve been told my kid needs their eyes tested after they were checked at school — why?
Our Foureyes Foundation team heads in to local schools once a year to do vision screening — this is a super-quick test with our fancy machine which lets us know if further testing is needed. If you’ve received a letter saying your child needs an eye test, it means we’d love one of our optometrists to carry out a more comprehensive eye check with a half hour eye test. Please book an appointment with your nearest clinic which you can find HERE. This appointment will be completely free.
What does your eye test include?
Good question — see the answer HERE
Is your service really completely free?
It sure is! Thanks to the support of some awesome businesses and individuals, we carry out vision screening, eye tests and prescription glasses at no cost to families. (You can, of course, donate a nominal sum to the cost of glasses if you like but this is not expected.)
I’ve got further questions — should I ask the receptionist when I ring to book in my child’s appointment?
The lovely staff at the local medical clinics we use kindly make all of our clinic appointments for us but for any questions about your child, the Foureyes process, or eyesight queries, please contact our team using this FORM
How do I get free glasses for my child?
If your child has been part of the Foureye Foundation vision screening and testing, they may be eligible for free glasses. If the optometrist they saw for their testing didn’t mention it, ask them or email us and we’ll let you know the next steps to take.
What are some signs that my child might have an eye issue?
Good question – Ravi wrote an article on this subject for Tots To Teens magazine. Read that HERE
My child has been diagnosed with an eye issue but I don’t know what it means — help!
It’s normal to feel a bit overwhelmed at the initial appointment and to find it hard to take in all the technical terms! Check out this blog which explains what all those eyesight terms actually mean. CLICK HERE
How do I make an appointment with a Foureyes clinic?
Our travelling team work on different days in different clinics – usually one day a month or more. To make an appointment, simply ring the medical clinic in your area and ask to make an appointment for your child.
Our clinics are:
- Whaiora, Masterton: 394 Queen Street, 06 370 0818
- Ora Toa Poneke Medical Centre, Wellington: 45 Rugby Street, Mount Cook, 04 245 0010
- Maraeroa Marae Medical Centre, Porirua: 216 Warspite Avenue, Waitangirua, 04 235 8000
- Dargaville Medical, Dargaville: 77 Awakino Road, 09 439 8079
Can I get my child’s eyes tested with one of your team if I live out of zone and/or haven’t been through the school vision screening?
You sure can – just contact the clinic closest to you and ring them to make an appointment. If you have any questions, please contact us direct: hello@foureyesfoundation.org.nz
Do you test adults, too?
Except for our Dargaville clinic, we offer eye exam appointments for adults — and the fees for adult eye tests go back to the Foundation! Now you can give local kids the gift of sight by choosing us.