ALEXANDRIA, Va.—The Vision Council Foundation has announced that it is marking back-to-school season by spotlighting a range of free online and downloadable education tools that the eyecare community can share with parents and staff. Its “Guide to Kid’s Eye Health and Myopia Management This School Year" summarizes several resources from its members, including Prevent Blindness, CooperVision, EyeMed Vision Care, the American Academy of Ophthalmology and Zeiss. Included are fact sheets, a classroom simulator, curriculum kits, videos and caregiver survey data, among other items. The synopsis is available on the Foundation’s new website here.

More than half of parents surveyed by The Vision Council who had a child diagnosed with myopia revealed that they had found out because of a routine eye exam, according to Focused inSights 2023: Parental Perspectives on Myopia report. The Foundation’s Back to School Eye Exams Toolkit offers graphics, social media posts and a printable poster that eyecare practices can use to encourage families to schedule a comprehensive exam. It is available for download here.

“The optical community understands the crucial role that clear, healthy vision plays in a child’s future, but for busy families, making sure that happens can feel overwhelming or out of reach. Our goal is to make vision care accessible and straightforward,” said Ashley Mills, CEO of The Vision Council and The Vision Council Foundation. “Whether caregivers are unsure where to begin or want a deeper understanding of potential vision issues, resources from The Vision Council Foundation and our members can help simplify the process.”

In addition to its back-to-school tools, the Foundation website provides year-round children’s vision and education guidance for parents—an avenue to which eyecare professionals can point parents or tap to supplement their own caregiver education efforts. Topics such as eyecare terminology, the importance of eye exams, what happens during an eye exam, and types of eyewear for sports and activities are presented through straightforward descriptions.

Click here to learn more.