Experience from school-based vision clinic designed to serve the Chicago Public Schools

The Illinois Eye Institute in partnership with the Chicago Public Schools opened a school-based vision program to address the unmet need of vision care for children. Each year, over 100,000 children in the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) fail vision screenings, have broken/lost glasses, or fail to complete a required exam for entry to school. Lack of follow up and limited access to providers accepting state insurance contribute to poor access to eyecare. During the first year of operation, 5,032 children ranging in age from 3 - 22 yrs (mean 11.3 yrs +/-3.3) were examined. The children primarily represented schools with at least 90% of the children falling below the federal poverty level. Racial distribution was: Black - 61%, Hispanic -33%, White-2% , with the remainder of the subjects were mixed race, middle eastern, or the race was unknown. Refractive errors (OD) range: -14.75D - +17.25D sph (mean -1.07 +/- 1.08) and cylinder ranged from -7.50D - -0.25D (-0.25 +/- 1.95). Strabismus was present in 6.2%, amblyopia was found in 8.6% of the children and 75.2% required new or replacement glasses. Previously undiagnosed glaucoma was found in 2 patients. There is a large unmet need for vision care within CPS. The clinic provides primary eye care, access to refractive correction, and limited follow up. When secondary care is required, the challenge is ensuring the patient is able to access appropriate services. We are working to address referrals, expand services available, and monitor the wear of prescribed glasses.