EyeGive provides eye exams and glasses to students who need them — at no cost to their families.
“Helping students see clearly, succeed confidently, and reach their full potential.”
One student, three steps, no cost to the family
Virginia schools screen students' vision, but a failed screening is only a letter home. When a family can't act on it, the nurse refers the student to us — confidentially, and with no paperwork for the parent to chase.
We schedule the comprehensive eye exam and cover the prescription glasses. Families pay nothing, and they don't have to navigate insurance, appointments, or billing on their own.
Every student goes home with a care kit — a hard case, cleaning cloth, and clear instructions for replacement. We follow up to confirm the glasses are still being worn months later.
EyeGive is entirely volunteer-run. There are no salaries and no office, so nearly every dollar donated becomes a student's exam, glasses, and care kit.
Our impact so far
Glasses collected through community drives
Families reached across our community
Raised to fund exams and eyewear
Why a failed vision screening often goes nowhere
Every year, schools screen students' vision. When a student fails, the nurse sends a letter home — and for many families, that's where it stops. The eye exam costs money, the appointment falls during work hours, and getting there isn't always possible.
So the student sits in class unable to read the board, and is often mistaken for inattentive or behind. And when a student does get glasses, a lost or broken pair frequently goes unreplaced for the rest of the year.
EyeGive closes both gaps. We work directly with school nurses, who refer students confidentially. We coordinate the exam and the glasses at no cost to the family, and every student goes home with a care kit and a clear plan for what to do if their glasses break.
What peer-reviewed research says about vision and learning
In a randomized trial across Baltimore City Public Schools, students in grades 3–7 who received eye exams and glasses through a school-based program scored better on reading assessments. The largest gains went to the students who had been performing worst — those in the lowest quartile at baseline, and those in special education.
Effect of a Randomized Interventional School-Based Vision Program on Academic Performance of Students in Grades 3 to 7 — Neitzel et al., JAMA Ophthalmology, 2021.
In a cluster-randomized trial, children given free glasses earlier in the school year outperformed those given them later. The difference was equivalent to roughly half a semester of additional learning — from a pair of glasses.
Effect of a Local Vision Care Center on Eyeglasses Use and School Performance in Rural China: A Cluster Randomized Clinical Trial — Ma et al., JAMA Ophthalmology, 2018.
Screening alone does not close the gap. In a school-based program serving more than 41,000 students in an economically disadvantaged district, 21% failed their vision screening — but fewer than half of those students went on to complete an eye exam.
Vision Screening Outcomes and Follow-Up Intervals among Socioeconomically Disadvantaged Students from a School-Based Vision Program — Xu et al., Ophthalmology, 2026.
More than one in five school-aged children has some kind of vision problem, and children from lower-income families are less likely to have those conditions diagnosed. School vision screening is widespread, but its benefit is undercut by weak follow-up and poor coordination between schools, nurses, families, and providers.
Vision and the achievement gap among urban minority youth — Basch, Journal of School Health, 2011.
Uncorrected refractive error remains a leading cause of childhood visual impairment in the United States. Because children's vision problems are often asymptomatic, they go unnoticed — and partnerships between schools and community organizations are among the most effective ways to reach the children affected.
Challenges and Opportunities of Vision Screening and Refractive Error Management for Underserved Children in the United States — Ambrosino & Collins, Journal of Binocular Vision and Ocular Motility, 2025.
Citations retrieved from PubMed. Each title links to the published article via its DOI.
Your support changes futures
Give your time and talents to help students in our community see clearly and learn confidently.
Get involved →Fund eye exams, prescription glasses, and care kits for students whose families cannot cover the cost.
Support our mission →Join a glasses drive, fundraiser, or service night — make an impact while having a great time.
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