Prevent Blindness Indiana

For children, vision is critical in the learning process; as much as 80 percent of what a child learns during his or her first 12 years of school is learned visually. Two out of every ten preschoolers have a vision impairment; many are unaware of the problem because they've never had good vision.

For adults, good vision health is important for most to maintain good quality of life, financial productivity and to reign in healthcare costs. For both children and adults, early detection and follow-up care can significantly increase the success of available treatments for vision disorders.

Prevent Blindness Indiana provides vision screenings, along with free eye exams and glasses to both uninsured children and adults who are most at-risk for vision impairment. This means that no one has a reason to say that they "cannot afford" eyecare for themselves or their children.

1. Everyone should have equal access to health care, including vision coverage

2. Lack of health insurance should never prevent children from having access to eye exams and glasses

3. Addressing children’s vision problems early can keep them engaged in school and on track to graduation and future success

4. Vision screenings are an important component of wellness screenings – screening adults for glaucoma can save sight

5. Diagnosing and treating vision problems in adults can keep individuals employed and independent