What if we could reduce crime statistics and high school dropout rates in the future by simply providing eye care to at-risk children today?
With See to Succeed, we can.
There remains a huge unmet need in the Houston metro area. The City of Houston estimates that at least 10,000 school children in Houston alone have learning issues because they cannot read well due to poor vision that is correctable with eyeglasses. Many children from disadvantaged families do not have eyeglasses because their parents are unable for various reasons to take them to the eye doctor. These children have been screened by school nurses but still do not have glasses by the end of the year.
Did you know?
- 80% of what children learn comes through their eyes
- 1 in 4 children have an uncorrected vision problem
- 80% of children who have trouble reading also have vision problems
- 50% of children who fail school vision screenings never see an eye doctor
- 65% to 74% of juvenile offenders have vision problems
- Children who can’t read by 3rd grade are more likely to drop out of school, earn 50% less income annually as as adults, and are more likely to be incarcerated
- Prisons forecast the beds they will need in 10 years based on 3rd grade reading levels
How has See to Succeed helped Houston’s at-risk children?
See to Succeed, a public-private collaborative, is an outreach that gives these children a quality eye examination and a quality pair of eyeglasses at no cost. The first outreach, held February 28th- March 4th of 2011, provided eye exams to 420 pre-screened school children from 19 schools in Houston, and fitted 361 with attractive eyewear. In the 2016-2017 school year, we fit over 10,000 pairs of eyeglasses.
Berkeley Eye Center has been a proud sponsor and participant in the See to Succeed program since it’s inception in 2011. Our employees and doctors have been excited at the opportunity to participate in the program, and have willingly given their time and energy to help these young students.