Governor DeWine, ODH Director Visit OhioSEE School

JACKSON, Ohio - At Northview Elementary in Jackson, Ohio, this week, 23 students in kindergarten through third grade receive fitted eyeglasses at no cost to the child or family, all courtesy of OhioSEE, a program launched earlier this year by Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and the Ohio Department of Health (ODH).

Sharing in their excitement were Governor DeWine, First Lady Fran DeWine, and ODH Director Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff, MD, MBA.

"OhioSEE is working, and today is a great example of that," Governor DeWine said on Monday, April 27. "This school district flagged dozens of students who needed follow-up eye care after the school nurse provided an initial vision screening, but only three students ended up getting a follow-up comprehensive exam. This is exactly what OhioSEE is addressing. Now, every student, kindergarten through third grade, who is identified as needing follow-up care in this school will receive it."

The eyeglasses were provided by Vision to Learn, an OhioSEE vendor. Northview Elementary is one of 227 schools enrolled throughout 15 pilot counties.

OhioSEE brings comprehensive eye exams and, if needed, glasses directly into schools, eliminating barriers that prevent families from receiving critical follow up vision services. School districts in the pilot program area can select one of two service models that work best for their district:

• A fully equipped mobile vision van that travels to schools on a set schedule, offering convenient on-site vision exams. It also returns to dispense eyeglasses directly to students.
• A "roll-on, roll-off" model involves a team setting up an exam space within school areas, such as classrooms or libraries, providing eye exams and dispensing glasses on-site.

"Clear vision removes a major barrier to learning, allowing students to fully engage with reading, classroom activities, and their friends," said Dr. Vanderhoff. "As more districts enroll in this program, we're seeing firsthand how much of a difference OhioSEE can make for children across Ohio. We encourage eligible schools to sign up to bring eye exams and glasses into schools for kids who need them, giving their students the best chance at learning."

School districts can request more information about joining OhioSEE by completing this form on ODH's website. After submitting a request, schools will receive a school program packet containing the official enrollment link.

Counties included in the pilot project include Allen, Butler, Clark, Clermont, Cuyahoga, Erie, Franklin, Guernsey, Huron, Jackson, Lorain, Mahoning, Marion, Montgomery, and Ross.

Visit Ohio Student Eye Exam (OhioSEE) to learn more.