Nonprofit Sight For Students works to provide glasses to students in need

As the owner of Stonehenge Vision Source, Optometrist Dr Eric Oberdorf knows firsthand how difficult an untreated vision problem can be for students.

"In school-age children, vision is vital to their learning," Oberdorf said. "Over 90 percent of what they learn comes through their vision," he added.

To ensure everyone in need of glasses has access, Oberdorf's office is one of thousands across the country taking part in the Sight For Students Program through VSP.

The program provides gift certificates for a free eye exam and glasses to students in low-income, under-served families.

"It is free to those who need it," Oberdorf said.

Oberdorf points out that screenings can miss some issues a child may have.

"The school screenings are very good at picking up distance problems - can the child see the board, can the child see the smart board?" he said. "But, the reading skills are more difficult to pick up on a screening. It's important for the child to fixate, to track and for the eyes to team together and unfortunately half those problems get missed in a screening."

There are five basic qualifications your child must meet in order to receive a Sight for Students gift certificate including:

• Family income is no more than 200 percent of federal poverty level


• Child is not enrolled in Medicaid or other vision insurance


• Child is 18 years old or younger and has not graduated from high school


• Child or parent is a U#S# citizen or legal immigrant with a social security number


• Child has not used the Sight for Students program during the past 12 months

For more information on the Sight For Students Program click HERE.