Parents
They Don’t Know They Can’t See
Importance of eyecare
Over 80 percent of what humans perceive comes through their sense of vision. But vision problems affect one in five children in schools each year. That means many children are missing out on a lot of learning.
Without intervention, vision problems limit a child’s ability to succeed in school and can lead to self-esteem and behavior issues.
Many children with vision problems just assume that everyone else sees the world the same way that they do. After receiving corrective lenses for the first time they say they didn’t realize there were individual leaves on the trees or that their classmate at the desk next to them could actually see the teacher’s presentation.
Through the Children’s Vision Initiative, the See To Learn Foundation works to level the playing field so all children have access to appropriate eye care to make sure they can achieve their academic potential.
Early warning signs for vision trouble in children
Covers one eye
Avoids close work
Rub/blink eyes often
Loses place frequently when reading
Short attention span or daydreaming
Re-reads or skips lines unknowingly when reading
Squints one or both eyes
Low self-esteem
Tilts the head when reading
A drop in scholastic or sports performance
Uses finger as a guide when reading
Disinterest in school and schoolwork
Poor eye-hand coordination skills
Complains of frequent headaches
Difficult to read teacher's writing on the board
Difficulty reading words in a book
Sits too close to television/tablet screen
Longer homework completion time with added frustration
Has difficulty remembering, identifying and reproducing basic geometric forms
Places head close to book or desk when reading or writing
Children's Vision Initiative Grants
One in five children entering kindergarten each year will have a vision problem that may affect his or her ability to learn. By high school graduation, this number climbs to more than 30 percent. Many of these learning-related vision problems may hinder a child’s ability to perform to his or her academic potential and could lead to self-esteem issues and behavior problems.
Below are grant opportunities for specific communities throughout Kansas. Select a grant below to read more and apply.
If you have questions or need additional information, please contact the See To Learn Foundation at 785-232-0291 or email visiongrant@seetolearnfoundation.org.
