Helping Students See a Brighter Future
V2L visits Sharon High School for student eye exams in 2025.
Since 2023, Buhl Regional Health Foundation (BRHF) has partnered with Vision To Learn (V2L) to ensure students across Mercer County have access to the vision care they need to succeed in school. Through BRHF grants, averaging around $50,000 each year, Vision To Learn has provided countless free vision screenings, eye exams, and prescription glasses to students in Mercer County, PA, removing barriers that often prevent children from receiving essential vision care by meeting students where they are – the classroom.
The program brings free services directly to schools via a mobile vision unit, where students receive screenings during the school day. Children who need additional care are provided comprehensive eye exams and, if needed, fitted for prescription eyeglasses that they choose themselves — all at no cost to their families.
The investment is grounded in growing evidence that clear vision is closely connected to academic success. A landmark study conducted by researchers at Johns Hopkins University and published in JAMA Ophthalmology found that students who received glasses through a school-based vision program experienced measurable improvements in learning. The greatest gains were seen among students who were struggling academically and those with learning differences or disabilities, with improvements equivalent to four to six additional months of learning.
“Access to vision care is an investment in Lifelong Learning, one of the 7 Vital Conditions for Health and Well-being. When students can see the board, read a book, or engage confidently in class, they’re better positioned to learn, grow, and succeed both inside and outside the classroom,” said Kimberly Porsch, Director of Grantmaking for Buhl Regional Health Foundation.
The findings reinforce what educators see every day: children cannot fully engage in learning if they cannot clearly see and read text and graphics on display in the classroom, in their books, or other materials. Good vision is fundamental to a child’s success in school. Approximately 80% of learning is visual, encompassing activities such as reading, writing, and interacting with digital materials. When a student struggles to see clearly, their ability to learn, participate in class, and keep up with their peers can be severely impacted. By delivering vision care directly in schools, the program eliminates transportation, cost, and scheduling barriers that often prevent families from accessing care.
A Sharon High School student during the initial V2L exam.
“This program will have lasting effects not only on students, but on teachers and schools as a whole,” said Jennifer Barborak, Executive Director of Buhl Regional Health Foundation. “By ensuring children can see clearly, we’re removing a major barrier to learning and helping educators better engage their students. It’s a simple but powerful step toward improving outcomes across our region.”
Nationally, Vision To Learn has helped more than 1.2 million children receive vision screenings and has provided hundreds of thousands of students with eye exams and glasses since its founding. Through Buhl Regional Health Foundation’s support, Mercer County students have been able to access these same life-changing services close to home, helping ensure that vision challenges do not stand in the way of learning, confidence, and future success.
To learn more about Vision to Learn resources in the region, visit these links for Western Pennsylvania and Northeast Ohio. For more about how Buhl Regional Health Foundation is partnering with Vision to Learn, please email info@buhlrhf.org.
Also, at this link, the National Eye Institute has a variety of educational materials to help inform awareness about the connection between overall health and vision.