Lessons Learned From School-Based Delivery of Vision Care in Baltimore, Maryland

Abstract

In an effort to address health care disparities in pediatric eye care, school-based vision programs have been established. These programs, while not universally available, have been established at individual schools or across school districts in at least 20 states in the United States (US). They play a critical role for students who are not accessing eye care, especially in disadvantaged communities. In the US, school-based vision programs often provide vision screenings, eye exams, and eyeglasses directly in the school setting. The rationale for involving schools in vision care delivery is the recognition of the inter-relatedness between health and education, including how poor vision can impact learning. Vision for Baltimore is a citywide school-based vision program that provides vision care for all Baltimore City Public Schools elementary and middle school students (age range 4 to 16 years). The goal of this paper is to summarize lessons learned from our work on clinical outcomes from screenings and eye exams, the academic impact of Vision for Baltimore, and qualitative work about consent challenges and stakeholder engagement. While school-based vision programs may vary in operations, we hope the lessons learned through our work may help demonstrate the transformative impact on vision and learning, as well as the importance of addressing stakeholder needs to maximize impact and ensure program sustainability.

Pediatric and School-Age Vision Screening in the United States: Rationale, Components, and Future Directions

“…For children with more complex eye conditions, SBVPs work to connect these students with local eye care providers for further evaluation and treatment. In the United States, SBVPs are operating in over 20 states and are continuing to grow in number [ 37 ]. SBVP programs have been shown to directly benefit students’ academic performance [ 37 ].…”

“…In the United States, SBVPs are operating in over 20 states and are continuing to grow in number [ 37 ]. SBVP programs have been shown to directly benefit students’ academic performance [ 37 ]. Notably, the academic benefits of SBVPs may be most pronounced for previously low-achieving students and students enrolled in special education classes, including children with learning disabilities or language impairments [ 37 ].…”

“…SBVP programs have been shown to directly benefit students’ academic performance [ 37 ]. Notably, the academic benefits of SBVPs may be most pronounced for previously low-achieving students and students enrolled in special education classes, including children with learning disabilities or language impairments [ 37 ]. Thus, by partnering with schools and local eye health stakeholders to facilitate follow-up care, SBVPs offer a useful extension to traditional vision screenings.…”

“…Eye care providers may also inform and support efforts to engage with the local community. Parents’ and children’s awareness of eye health and vision screening programs can affect participation in screening programs in the short-term [ 37 ] and may have numerous long-term benefits for vision health. In addition, both local eye care providers and community members are valuable sources of feedback for vision screening entities to tailor their practices to the current needs of their local areas.…”

Comment on “Lessons Learned From School-Based Delivery of Vision Care in Baltimore, Maryland”

“…We read a recently published article by Collins et al 1 on experiences from school-based eye screening with great interest. We would like to share our experiences in pediatric eye screening from India.…”