New Program Helps Students Access Free Eye Exams, Glasses at School

MMSD students who need follow-up vision care will have a new way to access eye exams and prescription glasses — right at school.

MMSD is partnering with Combat Blindness International and Vision To Learn to expand access to vision screenings, eye exams and prescription glasses for students through the new Bright Eyes Program.

Students who do not pass a school vision screening will have the opportunity to receive an eye exam aboard a mobile Vision Van. Students who need prescription glasses will receive them at no cost, while those who need specialized care will be connected with local health care providers. 

“When students can’t see clearly, it can affect their ability to participate in classroom activities, engage with their teachers and fully access learning. By bringing vision care directly to our schools, we can help remove barriers for students and families and ensure that students who need follow-up care have a clearer path to getting it,” Sarah Breon, MMSD director of health services, said.

The new program builds on more than a decade of partnership between MMSD and Combat Blindness International. Since 2014, the organizations have screened more than 30,000 students and identified thousands who needed follow-up care. Of students who complete follow-up eye exams, about 80% need prescription glasses.

MMSD currently provides vision screenings for students in 4K, kindergarten, first, third and fifth grades. The mobile Vision Van will expand access to follow-up care, with a long-term goal of making vision screening available to all MMSD students and screening approximately half of students each year.

The Bright Eyes Program began providing mobile vision services at two schools this week, with additional schools joining throughout the school year.

The partnership is part of MMSD’s ongoing efforts to make preventive health care more accessible by bringing services directly into school communities. Through Celebrate Smiles, a partnership with Access Community Health Centers, students can receive dental screenings, fluoride treatments, oral health education and restorative care through a mobile unit and school-based visits.

Together, these programs help connect students and families with essential health services in a familiar and convenient setting.