Pasadena ISD students receive free eyeglasses through See to Succeed event

More than 1,000 kindergarten through 12th grade students of the Pasadena Independent School District recently received free exams and eyeglasses during the See to Succeed event held at San Jacinto College.

According to a San Jacinto College press release, the week-long event provided 1,060 students with free glasses, and 280 students were identified as needing additional medical assistance.

"We've been waiting to host this event here to bring these services to so many of the students who have immediate vision needs," said Debra Clarke, eye care technology program director at San Jacinto College, in the release. "It is up to us to catch these vision problems early on so that a child's literacy improves, and in result, improves his or her high school and college education."

One in four children have an uncorrected vision problem, according to the See to Succeed program. Fifty percent of children who fail school eye screenings never see an eye doctor. Program statistics show that children who can't read by third grade are more likely to drop out, earn 50 percent less annual income as adults, and are more likely to be incarcerated.

"Vision directly impacts a child academically and personally," said Kirk Lewis, FISD superintendent, in the release. "What See to Succeed does makes a huge difference in these students' lives. For many, this event not only helped to correct their vision, but served as their first exposure to a college campus."

See to Succeed is in its second year of helping children across the Houston metroplex receive the vision care they need free of charge. The initiative is coordinated by the Houston Department of Health and Human Services. Partners include San Jacinto College, University of Houston College of Optometry, Essilor Vision Foundation, Wal-Mart, Berkeley Eye Center, Luxottica Group Foundation and Eye Care for Kids. The Pasadena Independent School District is at 8880 Southbluff Blvd., Houston.

For more information, call 713-740-0656 or visit www.pasadenaisd.org.