Each year more than 100,000 American children go blind needlessly simply because they did not receive an eye exam before age six. And, there are millions more whose ability to learn is severely compromised because they need, but do not have glasses. David Granet, M.D., Director, Abraham Ratner Children’s Eye Center, tells us, “Tragically, one in four elementary school children has an undetected vision problem that may affect their learning.”

The Community Ophthalmology Division, under the direction of Professor Barbara Brody, at the Shiley Eye Center, is attempting to solve this problem in San Diego County. With the help of individuals and foundations in our community, Save Our Children’s Sight, a unique program to bring eye care to San Diego’s young children and, when required, to provide glasses at no cost was initiated. Professor Brody states, “To our knowledge, Save Our Children’s Sight is the only comprehensive program in the nation insuring that young children’s vision is treated and protected.”

“We are proud that thousands of children will be able to see and perform better due to the effort of our generous donors and Shiley Eye Center doctors. However, there are tens of thousands of children that the program is not able to reach. With San Diego City Schools and Head Start strongly behind our services, our challenge is to double or triple this program so that every child in the community will be able to jump start leaning,” states Dr. Stuart Brown, Chairman of Ophthalmology at UCSD and head of the Shiley Eye Center.

Fourteen thousand children under six years of age have received vision screening since the program’s inception in 2000. Twenty-five hundred of these children were given eye examinations on the Ratner EyeMobile for Children and hundreds were provided glasses. The numerous success stories are heart warming and clear evidence that this program should not only continue, but also expand to all children in San Diego County.