Conexus – Vision for Children

About the Program

Category: Children and Youth (Best in Category)

Year: 2023

School based vision screening is required per Code of Virginia for students in grades K, 3, 7 and 10. One in four children has a vision problem that affects their ability to learn. Children with uncorrected visual acuity of less than 20/20 are three times more likely to fail a grade in school. Chesterfield County Public Schools has partnered with Conexus Vision to remove poor vision as a barrier to a child’s success in the classroom. Conexus is a local non-profit organization that provides access to eye screenings and glasses at no charge to students. Initially servicing Title I and Communities in Schools (CIS) school sites, the program has been expanded to provide vision screenings at every school site in Chesterfield County. In addition to vision screening, Mobile Clinics are offered at all Title I and CIS sites. Mobile Vision Clinics provide on-site eye exams and glasses in schools where access to care or other barriers broadly prevent follow up on vision screening referrals. In the 20/21-22 school year, CCPS Title I schools had over a 33% referral rate. Of the students referred to the mobile clinics, 77% received glasses. Identifying vision problems, and providing direct vision care resources, removes vision as a barrier for all students' success in the classroom.