Local Eye Site and Prevent Blindness America have Partnered to Promote the Star Pupils Program

While early identification and treatment of health problems typically reduces complications and leads to improved healthy outcomes, only one in three children has received eye care services before the age of six.^[i] The lack of screenings and exams create a barrier to ensuring that all children receive appropriate eye care services. An estimated five to 10 percent of preschool aged children suffer from some form of visual impairment, with most requiring eye glasses or treatment for amblyopia (“lazy eye”).^[ii]

Vast numbers of children consequently miss the opportunity to build a strong educational foundation for a lifetime. Consider the importance of vision to learning:

• Approximately 80 percent of children’s learning is visual.^[iii]

• About a quarter of students in grades K-6 suffer vision problems serious enough to impede their capacity to learn.^[iv]

• Vision problems can impair the physical coordination required for co-curricular and
athletic success.

With these and other research findings in mind, Prevent Blindness America created

Star Pupils™, which is designed to provide parents with the information they need to help their children succeed in the classroom through healthy vision as well as tips on proper eye protection and information on common eye problems. The goal of the program is to reach 5 million children through Star Pupils within in the next three years.

You can become a part of ensuring that more than 5 million children have success in school through our collective efforts. There are many ways that parents can get involved with educating themselves, paying it forward for families in need and advocating for policy changes. Go to starpupils.org for additional information Local Eye Site and Prevent Blindness America have Partnered to Promote the Star Pupils Program to see creative ways your office to get involved.