Undetected vision problems in children are a common issue, especially in underserved and underprivileged communities. There is a strong correlation between healthy eyesight and learning ability, so identifying vision discrepancies is crucial for a student’s overall growth and academic success. We address the problem of undetected vision issues among children in Oakland and Richmond by providing free eye exams at local elementary schools. By increasing access to vision care and resources for children who might otherwise go without regular eye exams, we support Junior Care Clinic’s mission of serving underprivileged and underserved youth and their communities.

Our committee does vision education presentations which are divided into four sections: colorblindness, anatomy and eye health, games, and vision conditions. In the colorblindness section, we use a colorblind testing book to teach students about colorblindness and check whether any students may have the condition. In the anatomy section, we use an eye model to teach students about the different parts of the eye and share important eye health tips. In the games section, we introduce the concept of depth perception through a game using ping pong balls and rulers. Finally, in the vision conditions section, we teach students about central vision loss, CMV retinitis, peripheral vision loss, hemianopia, blur, and diabetic retinopathy.

Outside of Vision Education, our committee primarily conducts Vision Screenings. We provide free eye examinations to schools in Oakland and Richmond. Children with eye discrepancies are then referred to local optometrists in the Oakland, Richmond, and Berkeley area. This ensures children maintain healthy eyesight and access to necessary vision services in the future. In addition to Vision Screenings, we participate in resource fairs where we provide general information about eye health to community members. As a result, we have been able to bring regular eye checkups to students in these communities, many of whom had never received an eye exam before. This past semester, we screened over 200 students and increased awareness about the importance of eye health in youth. 

The vision committee frequently made their way to Richmond to perform vision screenings on students from Ford Elementary school. Vision also made appearances at community events and workshops, to educate members of the underserved Bay Area community, and give them vision screenings. Just last semester the JCC vision committee screened 185 children at Ford elementary, and 215 people across all events. The teachings of the vision committee have reached a diverse audience of the underserved Bay Area population.

This semester we hope to use vision discrepancy data gathered from our screenings to publish research about youth eye-health in Alameda County. We also hope to expand our services to more schools in the Oakland and Richmond area while still continuing to provide vision screenings to schools we have established relationships with.