A child who can’t see clearly may not realize anything is wrong. That’s what makes early vision screenings so important, and it’s why The Vision Council Foundation marked World Sight Day this year by bringing free screenings directly to kids in Missouri.
On Tuesday, October 13, 2026 The Vision Council Foundation partnered with KidSight, a Missouri nonprofit, to screen 1,309 children at 15 schools, daycares, Head Start programs and community sites across 11 counties.
Screenings Work for Children of All Ages
KidSight uses handheld screening devices that deliver results in seconds. Because the process doesn’t require reading or talking, children as young as 6 months can be screened. The screenings check for common conditions such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism and amblyopia.
Of the children screened, 145 were flagged for a possible vision problem. The work doesn’t stop there. KidSight staff are now working one-on-one with each of those families to explain the results, find child-friendly eye care nearby and, when needed, connect them with financial resources for an exam and glasses.
Free Resources for Families and Educators
The KidSight partnership is part of The Vision Council Foundation’s ongoing work to make children’s eye health a priority at home and in school. Through its See What Matters – Empowering Education initiative, the Foundation offers free downloadable toolkits for parents, educators and eyecare professionals, including a myopia fact sheet, a family eye exam checklist and a school vision screening postcard. You can find them at thevisioncouncilfoundation.org/see-what-matters.
