Historic investment expands access to vision care for estimated 33,000 students across Ohio

Sight for All United (SFAU) is celebrating the approval of the OhioSEE program in the state budget, which was modeled on SFAU’s successful vision care work in the Mahoning Valley. The historic investment will expand access to vision care for an estimated 33,000 K-3 students across Ohio, providing eye exams and glasses, according to the organization.

“For nearly a decade, we’ve seen firsthand how a simple pair of glasses can transform a child’s ability to learn and succeed. When children can’t see clearly, they can’t read effectively, and that impacts their entire educational trajectory,” says SFAU board president Dr. Sergul Erzurum.

Erzurum said research shows uncorrected vision problems significantly impact K-3 students’ ability to develop foundational reading skills, yet financial barriers often prevent families from accessing vision care. The OhioSEE program removes these barriers by ensuring comprehensive eye exams and glasses for children who need them, directly addressing the connection between clear sight and educational success.

The organization stated since 2016 it has demonstrated the transformative impact of school-based vision care in the Mahoning Valley, partnering with Vision to Learn to identify and correct vision problems that create barriers to reading and learning. It’s model of providing free vision screenings, eye exams, and glasses to underserved students has shown dramatic improvements in academic performance and classroom engagement. Further, by partnering with local optometrists and ophthalmologists, SFAU is able to connect students and their families to medical providers who will be able to provide them with ongoing vision care.