Glazer Mobile Vision Clinic Teams Up With Lions Institute To Help Kids See Better

TAMPA, Fla. – One in four children is affected by vision impairment, and yet one in five children cannot afford eye care, an essential component to learning and development.

Helping students at schools across Tampa Bay to address vision challenges and provide free eyeglasses, the Glazer Vision Foundation's Mobile Vision Clinic has provided more than 200,000 free eye screenings and more than 20,000 free pairs of prescription glasses since 2009.

Continuing its commitment to provide critical eye care services and resources to children who need it most, the Glazer Vision Foundation has named Lions Eye Institute for Transplant and Research Foundation as the Mobile Vision Clinic's new operator.

As operator of the Mobile Vision Clinic, the Lions Eye Institute Foundation will be responsible for staffing the clinic with doctors and eye-care specialists, along with equipping an on-site prescription lens lab and a full selection of eyeglass frames to children in communities throughout Tampa Bay, regardless of their ability to pay.

"In today's visual world, sight plays such a critical role in how we learn and interact, yet far too many children are burdened with vision struggles,” said Tara Battiato, vice president of community impact and executive director of the Glazer Vision Foundation. "We're proud to carry out the centerpiece of our program with an industry leader like the Lions Eye Institute Foundation and remain committed to providing this much-needed service that supports the health and well-being of Tampa Bay's youth.”

"As the world's largest nonprofit eye bank and ocular research center, the Lions Eye Institute and its foundation are leading the fight against blinding eye disease around the world and now in Tampa Bay. It is an honor to work with the Glazer Vision Foundation to provide continuity to this essential community program,” said J.L. Bielon, executive director of the Lions Eye Institute Foundation. "The Lions Eye Institute has always worked to restore sight to people who are blind or visually impaired, so it is important we work on preventing blindness in our community's youth before it becomes permanent. ”

While the Mobile Vision Clinic connects Tampa Bay area children to essential vision care services and eyeglasses that they might not otherwise have access to, the mobile lens-cutting lab allows the vision team to provide eye exams and prescription glasses within three hours to children in need – all at no cost to the families.

The community can join the cause through the Glazer Vision Foundation #OneShareOnePair initiative. By sharing a photo or selfie wearing glasses, tagging @glazervisionfdn and using the hashtag #OneShare-OnePair, the Glazer Vision Foundation will provide a child with a free eye exam and glasses.

Additional engagement opportunities include using the foundation's Instagram filter, posting photos alongside the Glasses for All Children mural at Armature Works, 1910 Ola Ave. in Tampa, and tagging photos with the foundation's super-sized frames, a traveling art installation that makes appearances at popular events and locations throughout Tampa Bay.