St. Agatha 7th & 8th grade students were offered the opportunity to be part of a vision screening study through the New England College of Optometry. These students participated in an International research project. Refractive error has particular significance for school-going children as an inability to see well may have a dramatic impact on a child's learning capability, educational potential and career prospects. Fortunately, the vast majority of people with refractive error will require little more than a pair of eyeglasses to improve their vision: a treatment that is at once safe, affordable, and easy to apply. Unfortunately, there is a tremendous shortage of eyeglasses in the world's developing regions. The reason for this is simple: the eye is ubiquitous; the eye care professional, not. This problem begs the question: Is there some way to address the need for vision correction in the absence of adequate access to eye care professionals?

For more information on this project, visit these web sites: