Foundation for Children's Vision
The Nebraska Foundation for Children's Vision (NFCV) is a not-for-profit educational and charitable foundation whose mission is to assure that every child is visually prepared to learn. NOA Provides in-kind staff support to the foundation and several NOA Member Doctors serve on the NFCV Board of Directors. The NOA and its members provide the bulk of the financial support to the foundation annually.
NFCV Operates the SEE TO LEARN Program, an award-winning public service program which provides free vision assessments by participating Optometrists to three-year-olds' in Nebraska. NFCV partners with NOA and a variety of other stakeholders including school nurses, school teachers and administrators, early childhood educators, and other early childhood advocates to spread awareness of the need for vision care for children. NOA marketing efforts are closely aligned and coordinated with the foundation to promote pediatric vision care.
Statistics on Children's Vision:
- 20% of kindergarten students have vision problems
- By high school graduation, 30-40% of students have a vision problem
- 70% of juvenile delinquents have a vision problem
- 60% of individuals enrolled in literacy programs have vision problems
Why do children need a vision assessment?
Many parents believe that school vision screenings are adequate. While screenings that involve reading an eye chart can uncover certain problems, they do not evaluate skills such as focusing, eye alignment, depth perception, color vision, peripheral side vision, or eye health - all of which are critical to a child's ability to learn. An eye examination by a licensed eye care professional prior to entering school is recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics, American Optometric Association, American Public Health Association, and Prevent Blindness America.
If you are interested in volunteering in your community, email Marc Lassalle or call 402.474.7716.
