Kids Vision for Life

Kids Vision for Life is a high-impact program that removes for students from low-income families a major barrier to performing academically to their capacity.  The program provides to kindergarten and elementary public school students who have a vision problem free eye exams and eyeglasses and referral for non-correction treatments.  Several program features make Kids Vision for Life a sound investment:  1) a critical barrier to learning is removed through a simple intervention; 2) the program is cost-effective; 3) there is an unusual amount of in-kind contributions; 4) the program is a scalable model that is being replicated in Dallas, Tarrant, Travis, and Harris Counties in Texas and beyond; and 5) immediate impact on children’s education and long term impact on their lives.

 Overview 

Kids Vision for Life has been initiated by the Essilor Vision Foundation (EVF), a 501(c)(3) public charity organized with a vision to “eliminate poor vision and its lifelong consequences”  The foundation focuses on at-risk students from low-income families, a large percentage of whom have uncorrected vision problems.  Most students with vision problems do not realize they cannot see as well as other students and they think they are less capable than their fellow students when the problem may be simple: they cannot see the marker board.  In Texas, eye screening is mandatory in most grades of Elementary schools.  However, 50% of students who screen for vision problems never see an eye doctor and for those who do there is a delay as long as four years.  Kids Vision for Life solves this problem by taking doctors to the schools.  KVFL provides free eye exams and free eyeglasses, requiring only consent from parents.

Initiated in 2007 by lens maker Essilor of America, Essilor Vision Foundation supports two complementary models for providing free screening, exams, and eyeglasses to students from low income families that do not have vision insurance.