Clearer Vision, Brighter Futures: Addressing Unmet Pediatric Eye Care Needs Through School‐Based Vision Programs

BACKGROUND: Vision impairment affects approximately 1 in 4 school-aged children in the United States, and yet challenges in connecting to care exist. Poor vision has been linked to diminished academic performance, social development challenges, and poor mental health. School-based vision programs (SBVPs), which typically provide vision screenings, eye exams, and eyeglasses directly in schools, are one promising avenue to improve access to care, especially in underserved communities. CONTRIBUTIONS TO THEORY: Vision is a foundational component of both health and educational equity, and SBVPs are interventions that address gaps in access to care for disadvantaged populations. IMPLICATIONS FOR SCHOOL HEALTH POLICY, PRACTICE, AND EQUITY: SBVPs would benefit from better integration with school health services and more robust systems to coordinate referrals to eye care providers. States should monitor the impact of SBVPs on access to care. Implementation and expansion of SBVPs should prioritize under-resourced schools and students who face the greatest access barriers. CONCLUSION: Evidence for the impact of SBVPs in addressing unmet eye care needs among our most vulnerable students is robust. Evidence-based policy, financing, data infrastructure, and community partnerships are needed to embed vision care in school health to advance both health and educational equity.