School Vision Program Wraps Up an Impactful Year

Many children in the Philadelphia area struggle with access to affordable, high quality healthcare, including comprehensive eye exams and regular eye health screenings essential for identifying and treating vision problems early. 

The Eye Institute (TEI) of Drexel University is one of only a few organizations in Philadelphia working to fill this void in care by providing vision screenings, eyeglasses, and eye health exams for underserved children in the community. 

This past school year, TEI screened more than 8,900 children at schools across Philadelphia and Montgomery County, including Laura H. Carnell School, Olney Elementary School, Roosevelt Elementary School, Kennedy Crossan Academics Plus Elementary School,  Davenport Elementary School, Musselman Learning Center, Blockson Middle School, and East Norriton Middle School. In addition to these screenings, TEI provided 1,415 comprehensive eye exams to children across the nine districts served by the program and distributed 2,387 pairs of prescription eyeglasses at no cost to families. One pair is sent home with the child while the second pair generally stays on site at the school. 

Those numbers surpassed many of the program’s goals for the year, according to Dr. Brandy Scombordi-Raghu, director of the School Vision Programs and pediatric optometrist at TEI. She credits the achievement to the dedication of the doctors and staff, who worked tirelessly to institute more efficient screening techniques while maintaining the highest standard of care. 

“We are consistently surprised by the level of need identified in each district, particularly those that are traditionally considered high-performing,” she said. “We work closely with districts to ensure all students who are uninsured or underinsured have access to the examinations they need.” 

Dr. Scombordi-Raghu added that this school year, the program saw more high school students who were unhoused individuals, something she speculated may be indicative of the current economy and housing issues in the Philadelphia area. 

There are many modes in which TEI is able to perform both screenings and eye exams. Pediatric eye doctors  and optometric interns work closely with school nurses to visit schools for high-volume vision screenings. If a child is identified during a screening as needing further visual support, TEI provides a comprehensive eye exam either through its Mobile Unit for Healthcare Resources, which is equipped with fully comprehensive exam lanes and visits participating schools, or by transporting students ton one of TEI’s clinical locations, in Oak Lane or Chestnut Hill. 

“You have to learn to use the limited equipment around you to conduct the examination and you have to think on your feet to keep the child interested and engaged,” said optometric intern Gurkaran Badh, who has been assigned to the program. “It’s a good learning opportunity to discern different diseases and pathologies in different demographics.” 

When a child needs glasses, TEI provides two pairs of prescription eyeglasses free of charge to the family if they are not covered by insurance. For many children, picking out their new glasses can be their favorite part of the entire exam. TEI’s experienced technicians take the time to ensure each pair fits properly while helping the children find frames they love and giving them a sense of confidence at the same time. 

Vision screenings and exams also test for and identify eye conditions beyond those that can be treated with glasses, such as binocular vision conditions, eye turns, ocular disease, and more. 

“Oftentimes, something as simple as providing a student with glasses drastically improves their learning,” said Kevin Ozimkiewicz, Certified School Nurse of Kennedy Crossman Academics Plus Elementary School. “Instead of waiting months for appointments at private optometrists, The Eye Institute provides timely services and delivery of glasses to our students.” 

He emphasized the critical need to accessible care for low income and immigrant students, noting they would likely go without vision services for years. “The Eye Institute has proven itself an invaluable resource and I hope to work with them for years to come,” he said. 

This is also the third year TEI has partnered with the Eagles Foundation and Vision to Learn mobile unit to bring vision care directly to students in the Philadelphia region who require additional treatment, according to Dr. Scombordi-Raghu. 

“The referrals (to The Eye Institute) are patients who require additional care beyond glasses, such as treatment for amblyopia (a vision disorder where the brain fails to process input in the eye, favoring the other) and strabismus (a condition where the eyes are misaligned and do not point in the same direction),” she said. “It’s very typical in Philadelphia that two programs providing similar services, instead of competing, work together to meet the needs of our communities for the greater good.” 

Clear, comfortable vision is vital to a student's success in the classroom. Without proper eye and vision care, students may fall behind in classes and struggle with reading and comprehension compared to their peers. According to the American Optometric Association, “80% of learning is visual” and TEI’s School Vision Programs provide students with the visual support they need to learn, thrive and succeed academically.

The “Looking Out for Kids” initiative supports TEI in its ability to provide necessary eyeglasses and comprehensive vision care to economically disadvantaged children across Philadelphia, Montgomery, Bucks, Delaware, and Chester counties. With community and individual support, more students can gain the clear vision they need to reach their full potential in the classroom and beyond. For more information or to donate, visit here.