An optometrist helps a CFISD student with a vision exam at See to Succeed, hosted Feb. 8-11 at the Berry Center. CFISD offered free comprehensive eye exams and eyewear to students through the Houston Health Department’s See to Succeed initiative.
Feb. 15, 2022—CFISD continued offering free comprehensive eye exams and eyewear to students through the Houston Health Department’s See to Succeed program, which served 887 students from 51 campuses Feb. 8-11 at the Berry Center.
The See to Succeed initiative involved volunteers from the Houston Health Department, as well as volunteers throughout the CFISD community, all helping during the weeklong vision clinic for students between the ages of 6-18 who did not pass the state-mandated vision screenings initiated by school nurses. Approximately 240 students per day were examined and fitted for glasses at no cost to students or their families.
Participating students will have eyeglasses delivered to their home campuses.
Salyards Middle School eighth grade student Edward Tiburcio tries on frames at the See to Succeed initiative hosted at the Berry Center. Approximately 240 students per day were examined and fitted for glasses over the week at no cost to students or their families.
“It has been a blessing to work with this program,” said Veronica Mendez, OD, Houston Health Department assistant director of vision and clinical care. “Seeing that impact on a child’s life is so amazing and life-changing. Some children don’t realize that their vision is poor until they come, are tested and understand what they’re supposed to see. Others do know that they’re not seeing the best they should be, so there is a range. But once they’re sitting there and they see what they’re truly capable of seeing, it’s so amazing to see.”
Consent forms to participate in the initiative were sent home via school nurses for students who failed vision screenings on campus multiple times or were needing an examination.
Each day, students were transported by CFISD buses to and from their home campuses to the Berry Center. Upon arrival, volunteers and See to Succeed employees greeted students and led them to the auditorium for registration. Students received stickers and packets to help identify them throughout the day. Students visited multiple stations, including pre-screening rooms and waiting areas, before seeing an optometrist.
Students visited multiple stations at See to Succeed, held Feb. 8-11 at the Berry Center. Stations included pre-screening rooms and waiting areas before seeing an optometrist.
Stations included distance acuity, color, stereo, near point of accommodation and conversion, slitlamp, auto refraction and refraction, and optical frame selection.
If a student needed an immediate referral or follow-up consultation, program workers were ready to call parents and guardians.
The entire screening process lasted between 2-4 hours per student. During their time at the Berry Center, students were accompanied by CFISD clinic assistants, who joined them as campus chaperones. Lunch was provided to students by CFISD nutrition services to ensure meals were not missed.
Volunteers from the Houston Health Department, as well as volunteers throughout the CFISD community, helped during the weeklong vision clinic for students between the ages of 6-18 who did not pass the state-mandated vision screenings initiated by school nurses.
“See to Succeed is the perfect example of the direct relationship between student health and academic success,” said Bevin Gordon, CFISD director of health services. “Many students don’t even realize how poor their vision is. They put on glasses from this event, and their whole world becomes more vibrant and interesting. This event changes lives, and the health services department is so lucky to be a part of one of the many ways that CFISD provides opportunity for all.”
Since the See to Succeed program’s launch in 2011, more than 85,000 children have been seen and more than 78,000 free pairs of glasses have been delivered to those in need across the Greater Houston area.
