The Houston Health Department will launch a new way to give students access to vision care through its mobile vision unit called the Eye Believe Bus.
The specifics
Launched through HHD’s Houston Health Foundation, See to Succeed is a children's vision program that provides comprehensive eye exams and glasses to an average of 10,000 school-age students in Houston and surrounding areas. The program works with over 17 school districts throughout the Houston area and buses children to its clinics in the Heights for vision care.
The Eye Believe Bus expands the See to Succeed program by providing accommodations for those who cannot access services. It will send the mobile vision unit to communities, such as rural areas, to provide services. The new Eye Believe Bus is expected to increase the program’s capacity by at least 20%, according to a news release.
“Our mission centers on offering every child the opportunity to flourish developmentally and academically by supporting their health and enabling access,” said Robin Mansur, president and CEO of the Houston Health Foundation. “Expanding our outreach to support younger children in the Houston area represents a major advancement for early intervention.”
The local impact
The new Eye Believe Bus will officially launch Sept. 1 at Versa Reece Academy in Aldine ISD.
During the launch event, a clinical team will conduct on-site eye examinations in the mobile unit for local preschool students.
“It is a privilege to participate in launching the See to Succeed Eye Believe Bus,” Reece Academy Principal Natalie Andrus said. “Through this launch, we look forward to connecting local children with essential care right in our community, dismantling long-standing obstacles to accessibility.”
Also of note
Nearsightedness is a common concern for young children, and if detected earlier in a student’s life, it can help prevent academic and personal struggles, officials said.
