OneSight, SUNY to open vision centers at NYC public schools through Project NYSee

New York City-New York City’s United Federation of Teachers (UFT) and OneSight, a global vision care nonprofit, announce Project NYSee, a new partnership providing New York City public school students with access to vision care.

OneSight and The SUNY College of Optometry, in partnership with other local organizations, will open 2 school-based vision centers at PS 188 in Brooklyn and PS 18 in the Bronx this fall. The OneSight Vision Center at PS188 will be operated by Lutheran Family Health Centers with sponsorship and volunteer support from LensCrafters, while the center at PS 18 will be operated by Montefiore Medical Center with sponsorship and volunteer support from Sunglass Hut.

Each center will serve approximately 5,000 students annually providing comprehensive eye exams, glasses, adjustments, and medical eye care with an onsite optometrist, ophthalmic technician, and optician. The SUNY College of Optometry will support the recruitment and hiring of pediatric optometrists, as well as provide 4th year students to expand capacity and study/report on the impact of healthy vision on academic results.

The long-term focus of ProjectNYSee is to provide sustainable, year-round access to quality vision care as part of The NYC Community Learning Schools Initiative (NYCCLSI). NYCCLSI aims to improve student achievement by meeting the health, safety, and social service needs of students, parents, and communities by facilitating partnerships among public schools, nonprofits, local businesses, and government agencies to connect vital services to public school buildings. After starting with 6 schools in 2012, the initiative expanded in the 2013/14 academic year to 16 schools and continues to grow.

These partnerships will build on an existing vision screening program provided by the Office of School Health, a joint program of the New York City Department of Education and the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, which currently screens pre-kindergarten, kindergarten, and first grade students, and provides follow-up for the most severe eye problems and optometry care where needed.