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Program: Early Youth Eyecare (EYE) Community InititiativeHelping children see the possibilitiesSeeing the problem
Between 10 and 15 percent of children between the ages of 5 and 11 have an undiagnosed vision problem significant enough to affect their performance in the classroom and in their daily life. Unfortunately, children are not always aware they have a vision problem, and therefore do not complain to an adult who can help get them diagnosis and treatment.
The EYE Community Initiative will improve community eye health by providing vision screenings for children who are in kindergarten, first and fifth grade, as well as create a fund to provide treatment to uninsured or under insured children.
The goal of the EYE Community Initiative is to eliminate vision problems as one roadblock in education by providing regular vision screenings and subsequent treatment.
This long-term program began laying its foundation in 2007. The overall program incorporated translators, volunteer training, resource materials, technology and follow up treatments. Parents and community volunteers were trained to provide the screenings. To achieve its goal, EYE will partner with Phillips Eye Institute, school districts, school nurses and the Minnesota Department of Health. EYE began in the 2007-08 school year, and provided vision screenings to 2,500 kindergarten students and 5,500 first and fifth grade students in south, north and central Minneapolis.
During the next few years, EYE will expand to provide services outside the Minneapolis school district to other metro communities, early childhood centers and eventually, statewide.
Click here to access a form where you can commit a gift of money or time to the EYE Community Inititiave.
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Phillips Eye Institute
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