(PRESS RELEASE) MODO announces that it has now helped more than 1.3 million children to a brighter future, thanks to its social purpose program Buy a Frame – Help a Child See. Through the screening process and complete follow-up care from its program, it has help a child see with each frame purchased.
80% of what children learn is through their eyes, but 19 million children worldwide cannot see clearly. Causes for visual impairment include infections, vitamin deficiency, and glaucoma, but the most common cause in children is refractive error – the need for a pair of glasses.
Children with poor eyesight are more likely to suffer from poor academic performance and absenteeism, and dropout rates are higher, with poor long-term career prospects. Treating visual impairment in children requires an all-inclusive approach, from detection and treatment to prevention and education. This is what Buy a Frame – Help a Child See does, all made possible with its customers’ help.
Find out more here.
The comprehensive program, fully sponsored by MODO and in partnership with Seva Foundation, works in 3 steps:
- School Vision Screenings
Ophthalmic Nurses visit schools to screen all students and take visual acuity measurements. Teachers are also trained in general eye health and care. Students whose vision indicates impairment or blindness are listed for secondary examinations. - Secondary Exams
Partner hospital staff (optometrists and refraction nurses) conduct free visual acuity and refraction exams with students identified for follow-up. Children requiring glasses receive free prescription eyewear. Children diagnosed with other eye diseases are referred to the partner hospital for free treatment. - Treatment and Education
Seva partners visit the school to distribute the free glasses to children, complete with a final exam to ensure the child’s clear vision. Teachers invite families to the school, where the students and families are educated about their child’s condition and treatment, including the importance of wearing glasses. Seva partners develop long-term programs with the schools to allow for annual student screenings, referrals for treatment, and to monitor the utilization of glasses.