A partnership to invest in schoolchildren’s eyesight

Vision screening conducted for elementary pupils of Laguna Resettlement Community School —CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

San Pedro, Laguna—Security Bank Foundation, Inc. (SBFI) and Ideal Vision have partnered to offer free vision screenings and eyeglasses to 1,000 elementary students with potential eyesight issues at SBFI’s beneficiary schools.

The pilot program was held at SM Center San Pedro on Oct. 18. Ideal Vision’s resident optometrists examined 200 elementary students from Laguna Resettlement Community School.

The program expanded on SBFI’s flagship education programs, which include school building donations and teacher trainings.

During SBFI’s training programs, teachers noted that poor eyesight is a factor contributing to pupils’ low academic performance, as it affects their ability to see visual aids and read effectively.

Of the students screened, 85 percent needed prescription eyeglasses, which will be provided for free and aligned with their corresponding eye grades and conditions by Ideal Vision.

SBFI and Ideal Vision will distribute the eyeglasses in January 2025. The Ateneo Center for Educational Development will assess if beneficiary pupils’ reading abilities improved after receiving eyeglasses.