Dec 12 2009
Sharing Saturday – Vision
Did I ever confess my love of glasses? I mean, not only do they allow me to see my loved one’s faces, to read and write and craft, to get from one place to another without ending up wrapped around a fire hydrant or a tree (cough::TigerWoods::cough), but they come in *so many* colors and styles – even my inner fashionista is calmed.
I have 3 pair with my current distance prescription, 2 pair of reading/computer glasses, 1 pair of bifocals and 1 pair of prescription sunglasses keeping me happy and focused (pun intended) right now. I didn’t buy all of them at once, but I am lucky in that a) my vision hasn’t changed that much over the past 4 years, so I just keep my old pairs and b) I have vision insurance.
Not everyone gets to have their eyes checked annually for free. Not everyone can afford a single pair of glasses. I know that. So I’m passing along this bit of news from our friends over at The Fresh Air Fund:
One out of four school children in the U.S. has vision problems, and 86% do not get their vision checked before age 12.
Many Fresh Air children do not have access to affordable vision care. Glasses break, are too expensive to replace, or are never prescribed in the first place. And often as a result, children’s performance in academics, sports and activities suffers.
For the fifth summer in a row, OneSight offered to bring their traveling optical clinic to all five Fresh Air Fund camps.
Together with OneSight’s Vision Vans – and a team of local doctors and volunteers, OneSight provides free eye exams and eyewear to thousands of children in need each year.
This summer at Fresh Air camp, OneSight’s staff screened 3,295 children and counselors, gave 1,757 eye exams, and made 1,629 pairs of glasses, with 1,458 of them on-site and 171 specially driven in. The team stayed at Camp Hayden-Marks for two camp sessions, to make sure every child who needed the gift of sight was screened.
Although you might think some children would be reluctant to be prescribed glasses, most of them are delighted. They’ve been missing out on the world around them for too long. (Being able to pick out their own frames helps, too.)
Our friends at OneSight told us about a boy at Camp Mariah who ran to the Vision Van before the team had even begun setting up in the morning.
“You guys have the van, right,” he said, clapping and jumping up and down. “The one that I can get glasses from?”
We thank OneSight and you, for helping inner-city children receive the services they need.
—- OneSight visited India, too! —-
![[del.icio.us]](http://images.del.icio.us/static/img/delicious.small.gif){kind=small}
The boy at the end of your post almost made me cry. What an awesome thing for OneSight to do with Fresh Air Fund. I wish more people were this philanthropic!
JennyMac´s last blog ..Take A Bite Of: Cookie Dough Truffles
One would think that in the US, this problem would not exist. I work with economically disadvantaged kids, and there are programs in place here that allow them to get glasses for free.
Sight is one of those things that we take for granted until it is taken from us!
I am also a glasses wearer. Contacts scare me.
Jason´s last blog ..Controlling Christmas
The boy at the end *did* make me cry! I’ve worn glasses and/or contacts since second grade and I can’t imagine what my life would be like if I didn’t have them.
Thanks for pointing this out, Ree – it never occurred to me that kids might not get the glasses they need.
Violet´s last blog ..The chocolate brown, boucle-knit, cowl-neck, batwing sweater
That is an awesome and powerful story! That child said so much more with his actions than any one of us can with words.
Thank you, Ree!
Krissa´s last blog ..I am sure we are outwitting the German spies.
Such disparity–some kids get excited about an expensive game system–others get excited for a pair of glasses. Your post offers perspective (which seems appropriate considering the topic).
Green Girl in Wisconsin´s last blog ..setting matters: a writing question
What a great program. I’m so glad it exists and provides help to the children who need it. Thanks for bringing it to our attention.
Shelly´s last blog ..Whiny Friday