Alcon champions access to eye care with Children’s Vision Center

The center seeks to help FWISD families overcome barriers to accessing comprehensive eye care for their children.

Alcon today announced the grand opening of the Alcon Children’s Vision Center in Fort Worth, Texas, a first-of-its-kind partnership between the company and the Fort Worth Independent School District (FWISD).

According to a news release, the center offers comprehensive eye exams as well as prescription glasses and access to eye care professionals specialized in pediatric eye care in the Fort Worth community.

Conveniently located, the center is also available for follow-up appointments and ongoing eye care, all free of charge for qualified students in need, from Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 12.

David Endicott, CEO of Alcon, said the company maintains that everyone should have the opportunity to see brilliantly, regardless of their age or income.

“We are proud to support this important initiative because when kids can see better, they can learn better,” he said in the news release. “Watching a child put on their first pair of glasses, and the look of joy and amazement on their face at being able to see clearly, is incredibly powerful. They are literally seeing the world in a completely new way and will be better equipped for success in school and beyond.”

According to the news release, the center’s grand opening is an expansion and continuation of a 2021-2022 pilot which provided 35,000 free vision screenings and identified 3,000 students in Pre-Kindergarten through Fifth Grade who received additional eye exams and glasses. This pilot found that one-in-five children in FWISD failed their vision screening, and only 53% received a follow-up exam,¹ hindering their academic success and general health and well-being.

Moreover, the center seeks to help FWISD families overcome barriers to accessing comprehensive eye care for their children. Working together with school nurses and certified volunteers, vision screenings are performed at school on all students pre-kindergarten through Grade 5. Any student who fails the vision screening is sent home with a referral to have an eye exam. Students that are unable to access care through insurance or local providers can fill out a consent form to receive a comprehensive eye exam on-site at the school free of charge. Prescription glasses, if needed, are also provided free of charge.

Appointments can also be made at the Alcon Children’s Vision Center as needed by texting 682-628-2531 with a referral from the school nurse. With a clinic strictly dedicated to providing care to students, Alcon now has the ability to bring care to the large number of students who in the past never received a follow-up exam.

Studies show that 80% of classroom learning is visual,² and students who do not have access to vital eye care are also at a greater risk of eye and other health conditions. According to Read Fort Worth, children not reading on level in Grade 3 are four times more likely not to graduate high school, with even starker disparities for minority students not reading at a college-ready pace. Last year, Alcon announced a plan to help improve vision and enhance academic success by providing 150,000 vision screenings to children and ensuring comprehensive care for those in need.

To learn more about Alcon’s Children Vision Center visit AlconCVC.org or call 1-682-628-2531.

References

1. Alcon data on file. Audit conducted in 2021 among Fort Worth ISD Students.
2. UCLA Study: Impact Analysis of Vision to Learn