GROVE CITY, Ohio (WCMH) – More than a dozen students in South-Western City School District can see more clearly thanks to a free vision clinic.  

Volunteers with the Ohio Optometric Foundation’s ISee program examined 15 students and fitted them for glasses at no cost to their families.  

According to the American Optometric Association, one in four children in the United States has an undiagnosed vision disorder. In Ohio, the state health department estimates that nearly 35,000 students who fail routine school vision screenings do not receive the recommended follow-up care. ISee organizers hope to change that by removing barriers to accessing care.  

Steve Dorman, ISee’s chief operating officer, said that for some students, the vision clinics are the first time in their lives that they can see clearly.  

“For some of these kids, they may not know how bad their vision is,” Dorman said. “They may know that they have some kind of problem, whether it’s headaches or straining, but they don’t know the extent of what it would mean to see well.”  

ISee also helps families connect with optometrists if their children need follow-up care by sending home a referral list.  

School leaders said the program goes beyond helping students see.  

“This will help them tremendously academically,” Stiles Elementary School nurse Angie Boyer said. “It’s just a new adventure for them as a lot of these students have never been to the eye doctor.” 

Dorman said 100 optometrists signed up to volunteer with ISee. They will see more than 1,000 students across the state this year alone.  

Schools can request an ISee clinic on the Ohio Optometric Foundation’s website.