School Eye Health

Our school eye health program

Operation Eyesight knows that vision plays a key part in a child’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 vision screening program is giving students more than just access to eyeglasses or sight-saving procedures; together we are giving children the chance to attend school, build social connections and thrive.

As a global charity 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 2021 we completed 77,140 pediatric eye exams for students in schools across our African countries of work through our in-school vision screening programs. Today, we are expanding our programs across Africa and into South Asia.

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 children’s 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.