Kids Vision for Life-St. Louis (KVFL) has added a new state-of-the-art mobile eye clinic just in time for the 2015-16 school year.

The new van will increase access to students in need of these services at more schools than presently served. KVFL will continue to partner with the UMSL School of Optometry in using their mobile eye clinic on a part-time basis.

KVFL has served un/underinsured students at local elementary schools during the past six years through an effective school-based model that delivers free comprehensive vision care.

During the 2014-2015 school year KVFL screened 23,500 students, which resulted in KVFL examining 3,400 students and prescribing/fitting 2,750 eyeglasses. KVFL and its vision health partners, including ARCHS, expect to permanently increase KVFL’s annual service capacity with the new mobile clinic.

The primary objective of KVFL is to identify students needing corrective lenses and keep the glasses on these students through return visits during the critical learning/development age period of K-6th grade.

KVFL currently has a waiting list of Title I school districts requesting services. Title I is the federal designation for schools that serve a majority of students whose families are low income.

Research shows there are three primary barriers to impacting vision health needs in school-aged children: 1. financial, 2. logistical (e.g., transportation, childcare), and 3. low priority (e.g., deferral, denial). KVFL’s school-based service delivery is a proven model for overcoming these barriers.