BUCKS COUNTY ASSOCIATION FOR THE BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED

03/06/2026

Our clients enjoy each other's company while volunteering for our Second Look Newtown Thrift Shop!

If interested in volunteering for our thrift shop or BCABVI, please contact Marcie at 215.968.9400 or mfiliano@bucksblind.org.

03/06/2026

The Feasterville Business Association and the Feasterville Trevose Lions Club are hosting a free, audible easter egg hunt on March 28th for blind & visually impaired children! Please spread the word about this fantastic event!

03/04/2026

Prevent Blindness is raising awareness about the importance of protecting our eyes during March’s Workplace Eye Wellness Month. According to VSP Vision Care, “Employee eye issues are surging for the third straight year, and nearly half of all workers say their job plays a part.”

People who work in an office have a higher risk of digital eye strain from using computers, tablets, and smartphones.

Symptoms of Digital Eye Strain
Blurred vision
Dry eyes
Headaches
Back, neck, and shoulder pain and stiffness

Tips To Help Prevent Eye Strain
Place computer screen 20-26 inches away from your eyes & a bit below eye level
Adjust the height of your chair
Adjust lighting to lower glare
Use computer glasses that block blue light
Use anti-reflective lenses to reduce glare

People who work in industries have a higher risk of eye injuries.

Common Causes of Workplace Eye Injuries
Particles
Chemicals and/or other hazards
Tools
Flying objects (glass, metal)

Safety Eyewear Based On Work Environment
Googles
Face shields
Welding helmets
Respirators
Nonprescription and/or prescription safety glasses

To learn more about workplace eye wellness, please visit Prevent Blindness at: https://preventblindness.org/workplace-eye-wellness-month-2026

02/25/2026

Having good eyesight makes all the difference for a child. Just ask Cael.

Cael is a preschool student in Bucks County. When BCABVI’s preschool vision screener, Lauren Young, attended Cael’s local school, he had no idea it would change his life.

The Welch Allyn SPOT Vision Screener found astigmatism in Cael’s right eye and anisometropia, where vision in one eye is worse than the other eye due to a refractive error, making it hard to see clearly. Cael’s left eye was compensating for what he could see out of his right eye.

When she received the note from the school that recommended follow-up, Cael’s mother Kym was thankful: “I truly had no idea that my son had vision issues. My son didn’t complain about not being able to see.” After visiting the eye doctor, Cael loves wearing his new glasses. “I can see now!” Cael says as soon as he puts them on.

Vision plays a vital role in children’s physical, cognitive, and social development. BCABVI uses the Welch Allyn SPOT Vision Screener, a handheld device that quickly and accurately detects vision issues in children aged 2 to 6 years old. It can detect amblyopia (lazy eye), myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), astigmatism, and more.

“I’m very grateful that Cael’s eye issues were caught when they were. We normally would have had to wait two more years to get his vision checked in kindergarten. We are so thankful for your association (BCABVI).”

Supporting and advocating for children with visual impairments and their families continues to be a focus for us in 2026. We have partnered and work collaboratively with school districts, the Bucks County Intermediate Unit (BCIU), United Way, and other organizations to help provide resources for families in Bucks County. As part of our efforts, we are updating our Family Resource Guide to help empower parents to be effective advocates for their children.

For more information about our preschool vision screening program, please call 215.968.9400 or visit our website at www.bucksblind.org.

02/23/2026

02/20/2026

We're hiring a part-time Case Aide!

Do you like helping people and making a positive impact in your community?

We're looking for a part-time case aide to assist clients in their homes with reading mail, paying bills, and preparing grocery lists.

This position is 15-20 hours per week with a flexible schedule.

Please contact Anne Marie Hyer at 215-968-9400 for more information.

02/18/2026

Registration for Bookin’ For Lookin’ 2026 is now open!

Mark McCowan, BCABVI Board Member, is an inspiring person. He combined his love of running in half-marathons with his desire to help others who were also experiencing vision loss, founding the Bookin’ For Lookin’ Foundation in 2013. Since then, he’s raised over $125,500 to support blind and visually impaired people.

“Bookin’ For Lookin’ is a cause that’s near and dear to my heart. I’m glad I’m able to support BCABVI’s mission of helping visually impaired and blind people in the Bucks County area.” - Mark McCowan.

Meetup for the 14th Annual Bookin’ For Lookin’ Race For Sight 5K Run & Walk is 8:30 am on Sunday, April 26th at Council Rock North High School. The 5K loops through scenic Tyler State Park. It’s the third of seven races in the Bucks 5K Series, now celebrating its 30th year. New for this year is a Starbucks coffee bar and free raffle ticket for a chance to win gift cards and merchandise. The event includes snacks, bagels, and a photo area as well as finisher medals and awards for top finishers in each age category.

All proceeds from the race will benefit BCABVI. We appreciate the continued support of Mark McCowan and his foundation for this meaningful event.

To register for the event, please visit: https://runtheday.com/register/detail/bookin-for-lookin-5k-10k/?source=upcomingraces

To learn more about Bookin’ For Lookin’, including sponsorship opportunities, visit: https://www.bookinforlookin.com/

Please check out Mark’s video: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/h2L66ZvEr9M

Whether a runner or a walker, please come out to help Mark fight blindness one stride at a time.

02/16/2026

BCABVI will be closed today, Monday, February 16th, in honor of Presidents' Day.

As our country celebrates its 250th Anniversary this year, we wish you, your families & friends our warmest wishes.

02/11/2026

February is Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) month.

Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of vision loss and blindness for people 60 and older and affects approximately 20 million Americans.

According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, “AMD affects the central vision, and with it, the ability to see fine details. In AMD, a part of the retina called the macula is damaged. In advanced stages, people lose their ability to drive, to see faces, and to read smaller print. In its early stages, AMD may have no signs or symptoms, so people may not suspect they have it.”

At BCABVI, we are knowledgeable about AMD and other progressive eye diseases. Our low vision services help our clients maximize their remaining vision through a combination of the following:

Conducting a vision assessment at our Low Vision Clinic to determine the level and nature of vision loss

Developing personalized plans to help clients overcome daily challenges

Recommending and providing training on low vision skills, aids & devices, including assistive technology such as magnifiers, screen reading software, text-to-speech, smartphone apps, and more

Visiting clients to help modify their home environment through training, lighting, kitchen modifications, in-home support, and more

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with AMD, please call us at 215.968.9400 to learn more about how we can help.

To learn more about AMD, please watch this short video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ia6JZRgyDuk

02/10/2026

Andrea Bocelli blew everyone away at Friday's opening ceremonies of the Winter Olympics with his moving rendition of Nessun Dorma from the Italian opera Turandot.

Andrea, born with glaucoma, became blind in childhood. He's an inspiring story of what is possible.

You can view his performance here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twcHkYmSymw

NBC did an article about him which you can read here:
https://www.nbc.com/nbc-insider/andrea-bocelli-on-being-blind-since-he-was-a-child

02/04/2026

Prevent Blindness is encouraging people to share personal stories about the positive impact eye exams and treatment have had on their lives with their “It Started With An Eye Exam” campaign.

An eye exam is often the starting point for our clients on their journey with vision loss.

Clients are eligible for our services when:

An eye exam reveals they have a visual acuity of 20/70 or worse in their better-seeing eye that cannot be corrected with glasses, contact lenses, medicine, or surgery. A person with visual acuity of 20/70 can see at 20 feet what someone with normal sight can see at 70 feet.

Their visual field is 20 degrees or less in their better-seeing eye. Visual field means the area a person can see without moving their eyes from side to side. Individuals who have this limited visual field experience tunnel vision due to a significant loss of peripheral vision.

To learn more information about Prevent Blindness’ “It Started With An Eye Exam”, please visit: https://preventblindness.org/it-started-with-eye-exam-2026.

To share your story about an impactful eye exam, please click on the following link:
https://tallulah.ai/form/f11d7394-445a-4acd-a696-15841ab82a3c.