School Eye Health
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Our school eye health program
Operation Eyesight knows that vision plays a key part in a youth’s development – in fact, 80 percent of a child’s learning is visual. Vision screening for children in schools is integral to our mission.
That’s why our school eye health program is giving students more than just access to eyeglasses or sight-saving procedures; together we are giving paediatric patients the chance to attend school, build social connections and thrive.
As an international development agency that focuses on more than just children’s eye health and care, we encourage students to access local health services and foster life-long healthy habits.
It’s part of our focus on achieving the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, including improving access to quality education and achieving gender equality.
In 2022 we screened 182,115 children and 1,607 staff in schools across our African countries of work and India through our in-school vision screening programs.
Using the power of technology, we are training teachers to identify students with eyesight problems. Through our partner facilities and referral networks, we connect students, schools and entire communities with eye health care and their local health care systems.
Together, by equipping staff and teachers to identify paediatric eye health issues and by creating a referral network with our partners, we are creating sustainable solutions that ensure families have access to eye health care long after a school vision screening project wraps up.
By the numbers:
School eye health program & Vision Screenings for Children
In 2021, thanks to the support of our partners, donors, staff and volunteers on the ground, we screened close to 7,000 students and trained over 50 teachers and staff. By providing vision screenings for children and educators, we are able to build brighter futures together.
Ghana
- 64,115 students screened
- 1,607 teachers and school staff screened
Ethiopia
- 4,919 students screened
- 14 teachers, staff and volunteers trained in eye health screening
- 29 identified with non-cataract eye conditions
- 9 students receives prescription eyeglasses
India
- 40,923 students screened
Kenya
- 40,923 students screened
- 2,805 students received treatment for eye conditions
- 543 students underwent surgery
- 1,234 children received prescription eyeglasses
Nepal & Bangladesh
- 25,210 students screened
Zambia
- 14,489 students screened
