Prevent Blindness Mid-Atlantic
Edward H. Titmus, Jr. Center for Sight | 11618 Busy Street | Richmond, VA 23236
(804) 423-2020 | toll-free (888) 790-2020 | fax (804) 423-5409
www.TheEyeSite.org
Washington Area Office | 225 Reinekers Lane, Suite 700 | Alexandria, VA 22314
Click here to learn more about
our exciting new kindergarten readiness program
Where Healthy
Eyes and Ears
Lead to Success
starpupils is the children's
vision campaign of
“Now I am happy and I study very much because now...I can see close up and very long distances!! I am very grateful with all of you: simply...I can see”
Felix
See what children had to say when we asked them what their healthy vision means to them - Watch this short video (2:16)
A thank you message from a father with two children affected by our programs:
"[My son] is now making honor roll two out of three this school year and [my daughter] is also a huge improvement. We had to keep her back last year because of the issue with her and classwork and this year she is 97 to 100 in every category in class."
A grateful mom writes:
"Thank you all for blessing my son with his new glasses"
“I appreciate all the help you've given "my kids" over the last few years, what a positive difference you make in the lives of children every day!!”
Prince William School Nurse
“Your program is a profound blessing on my students and their families and your services and assistance directly impacts student learning and family accountability. Learning and good health is what we are about. I shall always be grateful for the professional help PBMA gives.”
School Nurse in Northern Virginia
School
Nurses
Thank you so much for helping us! My son is in 2nd grade and loves school...Without the reading glasses his eyes would get tired and he would have trouble focusing...Thank you for letting my son enjoy reading again!
~Tammy, Norfolk, VA
“Having a child come to the clinic to show off their new glasses and to
see the smile on their face when they realize what they
haven't been able see - It just doesn't get any better than that.
Thank you for providing this service to my students.”
School Nurse in Hampton Roads
Each year, more than 360,000 children in Virginia's public schools receive Prevent Blindness' "best practice" vision screenings from the more than 2,000 school nurses who have received our nationally certified program. Through this program, they also have access to free eye exams and glasses for qualified children in need.
Click here to see what our school nurse partners
have to say about our services.
In January of 2011, we asked our certified school nurses to answer the following questions regarding the importance of vision and the vision services provided by our starpupils program.
The importance rating shown on the left of each question is based on a scale of 1-5, with 5 being the most important. As you can see, our partners agree that vision and the programs and services provided by Prevent Blindness Mid-Atlantic are extremely important! We want to offer a special THANK YOU to all of our school nurse partners for all of their sight saving efforts and their hard work on behalf of their students!
4.94The importance of vision screening
The importance of vision screening4.92The importance of standardization and quality where vision screenings are concerned
The importance of standardization and quality where vision screenings are concerned4.95The importance of having resources, including the voucher programs provided by
The importance of having resources, including the voucher programs provided by Prevent Blindness Mid-Atlantic, for students who are unable to pass their visionscreening and require financial assistance4.82The importance of the training, support and follow-up resources provided by
The importance of the training, support and follow-up resources provided by Prevent Blindness Mid-Atlantic in support of the Virginia mandated vision screeningsfor students4.85The importance of continued access to Prevent Blindness Mid-Atlantic as a resource
The importance of continued access to Prevent Blindness Mid-Atlantic as a resourcefor vision screening training, education and follow-up for your school and othersClick here to download a pdf of the survey results, grouped by zip code
Click here to download a pdf of survey comments, arranged by zip code
Please read the comments below from our partners about our important programs:
“This program has greatly helped children in my school whose parents have been unable to purchase glasses due to financial situations. Please, do everything you can to keep this program up and running.”
“This resource for vision training, support and exam/glasses vouchers is vitally important to our school. We are a title 1 school with a very large population that is underserved medically and I use this service regularly for students that would just not receive care otherwise.”
“Wonderful program. I don't know how we could get along without it!”
“Prevent Blindness is my only reliable resource for free glasses. Me and my students are grateful.”
“This is such an important service for our children and adults. So many people don't have health insurance and can't afford general healthcare, co-pays etc., at least we can offer eye care.”
“As a school nurse, I don't know what I would do without the help from prevent Blindness Mid-Atlantic. Thank you for helping our students!!”
“There is a need for these resources and strategies in the private as well as the public school setting.”
“Prevent Blindness has helped a countless number of children gain access to good vision with examinations and glasses. Good vision equals an increased ability to be productive and successful at school and within their community. Thank you Prevent Blindness!”
“Fortunately for some qualified children in my school district I have been able to supply vouchers for those who are unable to obtain vision examinations and glasses on their own. These vouchers have come from Prevent Blindness Mid-Atlantic and the parents have been relieved and thrilled by this wonderful service. The children's most frequent comment when they receive their glasses is ‘Wow my new glasses make everything look so clear and bright’.”
“Thank you for all you do! You make our jobs much easier and put smiles on the students’ faces when they can finally see the board!!”
“I have referred several students who would not have been helped, otherwise. It's a great resource that's very efficient. My students received their vouchers the next day!”
“Our county has received so much reliable support from Prevent Blindness we would be at quite a loss without them. Other resources come and go and are not reliable. I love to contact Prevent Blindness with a request for one of my families. They are quick, reliable and very supportive helping the nurses do their jobs proficiently and then helping get the families eye exams and glasses.”
“Children must be able to see in order to be able to learn. Without the resources of Prevent Blindness Mid-Atlantic several of my students would not have been able to obtain glasses or the necessary followup for other types of visual disorders. I am also concerned about the availability of vision resources for students of illegal immigrants. As long as these children are allowed to attend school we must assist them in obtaining screenings, glasses, and other follow up for vision disorders. Thank you.”
“Thank you for all you do!!!”
“The impact of poor vision is profound on the learning abilities of a student. When detected early, intervention can take place which increases a student’s self confidence and success in school.”
“As a school nurse, PBMA provides an invaluable service to our students. The voucher program is a "God send" as most of our schools have a very large under-served population of students.”
“Prevent Blindness has been a great help for me to assist those students in need of exam and glasses. I appreciate having them as a resource.”
“As a school nurse I know how important this is for the hard times we are experiencing. Glasses are low on a parent’s list when they have to feed their families.”
“As a school nurse the more resources we have the better we can assist a student in getting the assistance they need. With today's economy, there are students whose parents do not have insurance to cover eye exams by a physician or to receive eye glasses. Please continue to provide us with the necessary resources to assist our students in becoming successful. Thank You”
“Prevent Blindness provides the schools with the tools needed to check our students vision. With school budgets getting cut more and more this is important. As you know, I am sure, many students only get health care at school. Please do what you can to help our students.”
“I am so thankful to be able to get vouchers for the students otherwise they may not get the eye exam and glasses.”
“There are several students/families in our schools/communities that just cannot afford to get vision care. It is so very important for us to be able to screen in schools and let the families know who has an issue and then try and help get the issue resolved if there is a financial burden. It is not the kids fault if there is difficulty due to finances but they are at times the one who suffer. So working together with Prevent Blindness helps us help families get the care students need. Thank you for all you help us do by working together to help our schools and community.”
“Prevent Blindness Virginia has been an invaluable resource at my school for the past 5 years. Several needy students have received exams and eyeglasses who would not have been able to get them on their own. The staff at PBV has been so conscientious and helpful whenever I have had a question.”
“I can't tell you the number of children that have been treated with glasses because of this screening. It is an invaluable tool at our disposal. I feel that every school division should utilize this program.”
“Prevent Blindness is vital to our low income population.”
“I cannot say enough about this program! In my 10 year career as a school nurse, I have seen dozens of students get vision exams and glasses who would not have been otherwise able to. It is an invaluable program which not only impacts a child's vision, but his/her education and self-esteem as well.”
“There are so many of my students who fall through the cracks and don't have the money for eye exams or glasses. Prevent Blindness has been an "education-saver" and a "life-saver". The students’ parents are always so appreciative and thankful. These vouchers make the difference between success and failure. I hope that there will always be this resource that our community can fall back on to provide needed eye exams and glasses to help more students become successful. Thanks!”
“Prevent Blindness has assisted with a countless number of students who are in need of assistance. With limited resources, it is a great assurance to have Prevent Blindness for those in need of glasses and/or eye exams. Please continue to support this spectacular program - the schools are so appreciative of this program.”
“PBV is a valuable, accessible resource for nurses to support our students. They do a great job!”
“I have found that if I hadn't been trained in the program of Prevent Blindness America Children's Basic Screening a lot of the students would be having eye problems. I am so glad I have had this training and to have the support of this organization makes my job a lot easier.”
“It is critical to the educational success of students to have access to regular screening for vision. In today’s climate of un- and under-insured and out of work parents, providing school screening may be the only time the student sees a medical professional for vision screening. As a School Nurse I take this service very seriously and know that finding vision impairment early may prevent blindness later.”
“This program has provided exams and glasses for the children who otherwise would not be able to afford it. Poor vision is directly related to poor school performance not to mention conditions left untreated can result in permanent life time damage. Anything that assists this program should have highest priority.”
“I am a school nurse who uses this program on the average of 5 times a year and it has been a blessing for the families that have qualified to use it in order to obtain an eye exam and get one pair of glasses. If they cannot see, cannot read effectively which is the backbone of education.”
“Prevent Blindness Mid Atlantic has been a great support to the Richmond City school children and nurses. They make my job as a school nurse rewarding because I am able to obtain glasses and eye exams for so many students that would not be able to have them.”
“My students would not be successful without Prevent Blindness, because they would not be able to read due to extremely poor vision. Because of the economy, I am referring almost three times the number of students that I normally refer. The parents are almost in tears when they receive your certificates for free eye exams and free glasses. You are a blessing to all of us, and I will do anything I can to help. THANK YOU AGAIN!!!”
“Through vision screening I have the ability to pick up on vision issues and report them to parents who might not consider taking their child to an eye doctor. I find with the training I received through PBV, I know not to simply go by the number (20/20) but to watch for other signs of possible eye problems. Many children would be underserved without this program. Thank you.”
“I was a school nurse in the early 1990's when we did not have the support of Prevent Blindness. I am amazed at the benefits of their education and programs to help students and the difference it has made. I have worked at community health fairs at the beginning of school years and have found that a lot of volunteers do not have experience screening children's eyes.”
“As a school nurse, I can't tell you how helpful this program is to our students.”
“This program has helped the school nurses offer resources to parents who have no idea how to obtain affordable and free services as necessary.”
“Many vision issues have been caught early especially in low income families where resources are limited. The vouchers available have helped many families in my school.”
“The services offered to students through Prevent Blindness Mid Atlantic have been such a vital resource to families that would otherwise be unable to have access to vision exam and eye glasses for their children. The success of our students is impacted by their ability to see the information presented by the teacher.......without the resources and services of Prevent Blindness Mid Atlantic, many students would be in a major struggle to experience success in school.”
“Prevent Blindness Mid-Atlantic has been an extremely valuable and helpful resource for improved educational performance and saving sight for our children!”
“The Prevent Blindness program has assisted millions of school aged children by training and certifying school nurses in the skillset of vision screenings and referral guidelines. They also provide financial assistance to uninsured students via vouchers for eye exams and glasses. This has been such a wonderful partnership for us school nurses and we couldn't reach as many children without the assistance and support from Prevent Blindness. Together, we truly DO prevent blindness in our youth! Thank you for all that you do!”
“…Our children need to be able to see in order to learn. They need to learn and have a positive self-image to where they will grow up and want to be productive rather than depending on welfare.”
“We have many students at our school that rely on our help to obtain glasses. If it weren't for school screening, a lot of students wouldn't be screened again until... who knows when.”
“Please help us continue to help the children. If they can't see they can't learn.”
“Screening programs are vital to all students growing up in these United States. With the cost of health care many of these students’ only access to health care is through the school nurse. School nurses are first defenders, we network, provide a valuable service to our students and parents. Our schools are filled with special needs students, diabetics, special ed students. We support transplant students, chemo students, at risk students. Not only are screening programs in schools vital but the school nurse to provide the care is vital also.”
“I appreciate the training I received. It has enhanced my screening skills.”
“Having a child come to the clinic to show off their new glasses and to see the smile on their face when they realize what they haven't been able see, It just doesn't get any better than that. Thank you for providing this service to my students.”
“I am the Coordinator of Health Services in a Virginia school division with 69,000 students. The Prevent Blindness Mid-Atlantic program has been a valuable resource for our needy students who need follow-up eye exams and glasses. This support directly affects the academic success of these at risk students in our schools.”
“Without Prevent Blindness many of my uninsured students would never get an eye exam or glasses.”
“Prevent Blindness is a valuable resource to my Elementary students. They have provided eye exams and glasses to many students here in Virginia.”
“Please continue to support and promote vision screenings. If a child can't see "normally", he/ she can't function successfully in the school learning environment.”
“Prevent Blindness Mid-Atlantic has been a wonderful resource for me and my families without insurance. This resource is amazing and truly appreciated!! THANK YOU for all you do!!!!”
“Prevent Blindness Mid-Atlantic is a tremendous resource--please help VA keep this valuable service for our children!”
“Please publish, so parents will know, the damage that is done when vision problems are not taken seriously and school referrals are ignored.”
“Prevent Blindness has been a true lifesaver for many children here in Hampton Roads. I hope it continues its wonderful work.”
“This program has benefited many children in my school who otherwise would have gone without glasses!! Teachers are so grateful to be able to teach a child who can now see!!!”
“I think this an important fund to establish since many of our students who need glasses do not have health insurance or minimal health insurance with no vision coverage in their insurance and the children do not qualify for FAMIS/Medicaid. Vision is very critical to learning. When they have problems with learning, the first things to check are vision and hearing.”
“It would be nice to have a refresher on Prevent Blindness Mid-Atlantic at our nurses meetings so that new nurses and nurses who have not had the opportunity to use this as a resource can be better informed.”
“This program is invaluable. Thank you so very much for your continued support.”
“Adequate vision is a student's most important tool for learning. Not everyone can afford vision services; we need resources such as Prevent Blindness - they are an immense help.”
“Prevent blindness has been a wonderful resource for our students. We have an excellent response when referrals are made.”
“Without Prevent Blindness, many of our students would not be able to see well.”
“This program has helped so many students at this school. I thank you for your services and I hope this will continue in the future.”
“It's quite a relief to know that students are able to get eyeglasses in order to help them prepare for life (i.e. to help them get an education to help themselves).”
“Prevent Blindness is a valuable resource and does an excellent job in utilizing its services, training, staff and revenues in the most effective ways in reaching the highest numbers to benefit from them....and so many do!!!”
“Very wonderful program”
“Vision screening services are imperative for the students in Virginia's schools. And proper training and follow up for the screening providers is essential.”
“Prevent Blindness teaches nurses the correct way to screen for vision and then supplies assistance for students who teachers know are having difficulty with their grades because they cannot see but the family cannot provide glasses. The screening supplies that Prevent Blindness provides are immensely valuable in allowing for quick, accurate screening.”
“This is a much needed program that should/must continue to reach the students that "fall through the cracks". Many students would never have seen a medical professional about their vision if the school nurse had not screened and followed up with the parents when they had failed.”
“The support and resources Prevent Blindness Mid-Atlantic has provided has been vital to the school in that the training and resources was necessary; Quite frankly, students from my school population has used the vouchers to obtain much needed eyeglasses. We are grateful for such a resource.”
“I always learn something at the training.”
“I am a school nurse and have utilized the voucher and training/recertification training for many years. Working in a Title I school it is most important not to lose this resource for our students. If it can be enhanced or financially supported that would be even better. Without Prevent Blindness Mid-Atlantic at least 10 students I know of personally would not have glasses.”
“Vision is an essential way children learn and become successful in school. When a child has a visual disturbance, they are off times not aware of their deficiency. Also some conditions, such as amblyopia, "lazy eye can only be corrected with early intervention. Prevent Blindness has partnered with Hampton City Schools for many years and has been very supportive in training, support, and providing resources for referral.”
“As a nurse, I recognize the importance of having such a program. The benefits are too numerous to name or list and without the funding for this service, I am not sure what would happen to many of our students. Please consider with utmost importance how valuable this is for the students and people being served.”
“Vision screening is an important health care measure. Many, if not most, children are found to have vision problems from a school vision screening.”
“I must say as the school nurse I have had a wonderful relationship with the Prevent Blindness Organization. They have supported me and assisted me in helping many children who have fallen through the cracks and have very poor vision. You have to see to learn and this organization is an asset for success of our children.”
“This has been very helpful in many students getting eye exams and glasses throughout the years. Much appreciated!”
“Prevent Blindness has helped so many students improve learning. It is an awesome resource to have.”
“Prevent Blindness is a tremendous organization. I can’t say enough, Prevent Blindness is a great resource that is always there to help!”
“Prevent Blindness of VA is a valuable resource for the public health nurses who serve public schools at all grade levels in providing education that is passed onto parents' of students. There are many students who are found to have a vision problem through the school health screening program and with the help of Prevent Blindness Virginia can receive a vision examination and glasses if needed when the family does not have any other resource.”
“Prevent Blindness has been a valuable resource for our school division with regards to training and resources for school nurses and for providing vision vouchers to students to receive free eye exams and glasses. Good vision is essential to normal development of motor and speech and for learning and academic success.”
“This has been very valuable to me as an elementary school nurse.”
“Prevent Blindness Mid-Atlantic is very important to school nurses as the organization provides training to standardize school vision screening. The help and follow-up the organization provides is invaluable. Also, the voucher program has helped a number of students who otherwise would not be able to afford it receive vision care.”
“There are many school age children in need of vision services in my area. Prevent Blindness Mid-Atlantic has made it possible for these children to receive services.”
“Excellent program. Students who cannot see cannot learn. My vision defect was found in a school screening.”
“The initial training was great for school nurses of any level.”
“The School nurses in Southwest Va. greatly appreciate the hands on teaching Prevent Blindness Mid Atlantic provides. Please continue to update us on new standards and methods, so that we can provide the most up to date screening for our children.”
“Our Title One school is very dependent on outside resources to meet the vision needs of our students so they can learn and grow at an optimum level.”
“This program helps some children that do not have the opportunity to have their vision checked and corrected any other way.”
“In 2010, shortly after school began, the vision screening identified two students with vision problems. The parents of both children did not realize that their child had a vision problem. Both students followed up with a doctor and received glasses.”
“I am a school RN and have utilized this wonderful program to help students who would otherwise not be able to have access to eye care and followup.”
“This program is vital to our students. I believe that there are many children that would not or could not have vision screenings if it were not for this program. I hope that funding remains available to continue to offer this service to our children.”
“As a school health assistant I have contacted and used the resources of Prevent Blindness Mid-Atlantic several times for students who are unable financially to have an eye exam or buy glasses. It is very important to continue this program for the wellbeing of our students and to assist in providing them with the best education possible with the best equipment possible.”
“School age children need any and all resources available to them. Funding for public education is always a challenge and any assistance is needed and should be provided for them. Vision screenings are essential...often times obstacles to instruction ranging from discipline problems to below standard grades stem from the student's inability to see the board.”
“On a yearly basis at least 6 kids need glasses after testing . Half of those kids get free vision and glasses through vouchers...”
“Prevent blindness has been so easy to work with. They have really been a life saver when we have parents that do not have insurance and cannot afford eye care for their children.”
“A very necessary program for secondary schools.”
“I use my vision kit almost daily. Teachers refer students to me to check if they see a vision problem and yesterday I found a first grader with 20/60 both eyes. Her vision was 20/30 2 years ago in kindergarten.”
“Prevent Blindness America is Great!!!”
“Early detection and prompt discovery help our kids become successful when that success was iffy at best with poor and undetected eyesight.”
“Fortunately for my school community, I have been able to obtain glasses for students with no vision insurance coverage. As school nurses in our communities, we are the first line in working with the students and parents to assist with health care needs. I am so grateful for the resources we have with Prevent Blindness. The staff is extremely professional and always willing to assist us as we care for our students in our communities.”
