California factory offers free eyeglasses to kids in need

January 10, 2011

The eyewear manufacturer Santa Barbara Eyeglass Factory has donated thousands of pairs of eyeglasses to local kids in need over the past 15 years.

"Kids, veterans, college students, homeless [people] - anyone who needs vision care and can't afford it will be taken care of," owner Rick Feldman told the Noozhawk newspaper. "It's ridiculous we live in a city with this kind of wealth that has a problem addressing eye care and glasses."

Feldman, along with the charitable organization Surgical Eye Expeditions International, have teamed up to offer those in need eye exams as well as eyeglasses at various special events, including an annual "Kids' Day."

"I want people to understand the need for eye care, especially among the youth who cannot achieve their full potential otherwise. Kids are our future. If they can't see the blackboard, they move further away from the teacher and have behavioral problems," Feldman told the news provider.

According to the American Optometric Association (AOA), it has been estimated that as much as 80 percent of the learning a child does occurs through the eyes.

Because vision may change frequently during the school years, regular eye and vision care for school-aged kids is important.

Eyeglasses or contact lenses may remedy some problems, but some vision problems require vision therapy, according to the AOA.