OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - A volunteer program is providing free eye examinations and glasses to students at eight Omaha Public Schools.
The operation by Child Vision Collaborative is expected to serve about 650 students from the schools this week, the Omaha World-Herald (https://bit.ly/2mUr1VO ) reported. The collaborative, led by Building Healthy Futures, is made up of 18 local community organizations, nonprofits and other groups.
Central Park Elementary Principal Scott Sturgeon said vision problems are more difficult to spot than academic and social needs for students.
“This is a way where we can ferret it out and remove a barrier to academic success,” he said.
Building Healthy Futures is an independent nonprofit that aims to improve the health of underserved children in the community. It already oversees eight schools’ health centers and facilitates oral health services in 32 schools.
Volunteers in the program conduct initial screenings at the schools, and students who are identified as having vision difficulties are referred for exams.
Program participants knew from the beginning that some children were going to get the referred eye exams due to lack of insurance, time off work or necessary language skills, according to Building Healthy Futures official Kathy Austin.
Pediatric ophthalmologist Dr. Donny Suh said early detection of eye conditions is critical because poor vision affects brain development and can result in permanent loss of vision.
“We are trying to help them stay engaged in school so they can excel and fulfill their dreams,” he said.
Weiss said about 90 percent of students who need prescriptions receive glasses on site. The rest are sent to an outside lab, which mails the finished glasses to Building Healthy Futures for distribution.
The cost of the donated services from last fall’s screenings to this week’s exams and glasses is expected to reach $175,000.
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Information from: Omaha World-Herald, https://www.omaha.com
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