Buckeye Reporter

Mike DeWine, Governor of Ohio, announced a new $10 million initiative aimed at providing comprehensive vision care and glasses for students who fail school screenings. The goal is to improve learning outcomes. This statement was made on the social media platform X.

"Right now, too many Ohio students who fail a vision screening at their school never receive follow-up care," said Mike Dewine. "The new OhioSEE program will help ensure more kids with vision problems get support to see clearly. Governor DeWine is launching a new vision services program, OhioSEE, that ensures students who fail vision screenings receive comprehensive eye exams, and if needed, glasses. An investment of $10 million over the biennium will serve kids at a time in their lives when vision is critical to learning to read."

In Ohio, follow-up rates for students who fail school vision screenings remain low. According to the Ohio Department of Health, only about 26% of those identified receive further eye exams or glasses, despite over 90% of students being screened. This gap has prompted programs like OhioSEE, which aim to bring exams and eyewear directly to schools.

Recent data from the Ohio Department of Health indicate that in the 2022–23 school year, approximately 35,000 students who failed school vision screenings did not receive the necessary corrective glasses. This highlights persistent challenges in accessing follow-up care.

Prevent Blindness reports that Midwest states have increased funding for student vision programs in recent years. However, Ohio invests less per student than several neighboring states and lacks performance-based funding models found elsewhere in the region.

As reported by Wikipedia and local news sources, Mike DeWine is Ohio’s 70th governor and has been in office since 2019. With a background as Ohio Attorney General and U.S. Senator, he has prioritized children’s health by launching initiatives like OhioSEE to improve student vision care.