Volunteer optometrists and members of Lions International have been working for months to improve the vision — and lives — of children in the South Bay Union School District . Their mission: identify students in need of glasses and provide them at little to no cost. Since Aug.
16, more than 600 students across six South Bay schools — VIP, Bayside, Central, Oneonta, South Bay Charter and Mendoza — have had their vision screened, with 20% needing further care. This initiative culminated in a three-day event over the weekend where a mobile clinic operated by insurer VSP Vision Care teamed up with local doctors, school nurses, classroom and community volunteers to test and fit more than 100 South Bay children with eyeglasses. The volunteer optometrists are primarily in private practice across San Diego County, organizers said.
Eric White, optometrist and president of the San Diego County Optometric Society , was quick to embrace the idea when approached, recruiting other eye doctors such as Bob Meisel, who regularly screens students at the Monarch School for unhoused youth in downtown San Diego. We'll send you the top local news stories every morning at 8 a.m.
By clicking subscribe, you agree to share your email address with Times of San Diego to receive our free newsletter and breaking news alerts. We won't use your email for any other purpose, and you can opt out at any time via an unsubscribe link. White emphasized the importance of healthy eyesight as the “great equ.