JACKSON, Ohio — Governor Mike DeWine and Ohio Department of Health Director Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff visited Northview Elementary in Jackson on Monday as part of an ongoing push to expand OhioSEE, a state program that brings free eye exams and eyeglasses directly into schools.
Twenty-three students in kindergarten through third grade received fitted eyeglasses at no cost during the visit, provided by Vision to Learn, one of the program’s vendors. Northview Elementary is one of 227 schools currently enrolled across 15 Ohio pilot counties.
DeWine used the visit to highlight a problem the program is designed to fix. The school had previously identified dozens of students who needed follow-up eye care after initial vision screenings by the school nurse — but only three of those students actually received a comprehensive follow-up exam.
“This is exactly what OhioSEE is addressing,” DeWine said. “Now, every student, kindergarten through third grade, who is identified as needing follow-up care in this school will receive it.”
OhioSEE eliminates the gap between identifying a vision problem and treating it by bringing exams and glasses directly into the school building. Districts in the pilot program can choose between two service models — a fully equipped mobile vision van that travels to schools on a set schedule, or a portable setup that converts a classroom or library into a temporary exam space.
Jackson County is one of 15 counties included in the pilot. The others are Allen, Butler, Clark, Clermont, Cuyahoga, Erie, Franklin, Guernsey, Huron, Lorain, Mahoning, Marion, Montgomery, and Ross.
“Clear vision removes a major barrier to learning, allowing students to fully engage with reading, classroom activities, and their friends,” Vanderhoff said.
School districts interested in joining the program can request information through the ODH OhioSEE website at odh.ohio.gov.