Mobile Eye Clinic Bringsโข Critical Vision Careโ to Staunton Students
STAUNTON, VA – A mobile eye clinic operated by the nonprofit โConexusโฃ is providingโ free โฃvision screenings, exams, and glasses to students in Staunton City Schools, addressing a important barrier to โlearning. The initiative, which โvisited Bessie Weller Elementary on September 3 and Ware Elementary on September 10,โค aims to โensure all students โhaveโฃ the vision they need to succeed academically.
Research indicates that children with vision problems are more than three times more likely toโข fail a grade in school. Recognizing this connection, Conexus โขis working to proactively identify and correct vision issues within theโ school system.
Del. Ellen Campbell, representing Virginia’s 36th โDistrict, observed the mobile clinic at Ware Elementary.”Students today have a lot ofโข obstacles when it comes to learning,” she said. “Helping them see better removes one of those obstacles.” She highlighted the importance of the service for families facing logistical challenges. “Not everybody has the same โresourcesโฆ Think โคabout โขthese kids right here. Their parents are at work today,โค so if they had to figure out a wayโ to take off from work to take them to the doctorโฆ it’s a greatโข resource.”
During the visit to Bessieโ Weller, Conexus provided 36 โeye exams and prescribedโข 27 pairsโข of glasses. Notably, โค75%โ of the students examined had never received an eye exam before, โand 78% of those โขprescribed glasses will be receiving their first pair.
“We come in and screen, get an eye exam andโค get a pair of glasses within a month,” explained Jeff Baldwin, communications director with Conexus. “Not aโฃ lot of people can say that we find a problem and fix a problem that quickly.”
All students in grades mandated by the state โคare being screened, with teachers able to refer additional โคstudents if they suspectโ a vision problem. The program aims to swiftly address vision issues and positively โimpact students’ academic trajectories.