Receiving Eyeglasses Benefits Grades and Attendance among Elementary Students in a Low-Income District: A Four-Year Longitudinal Study
Abstract
Uncorrected visual problems undermine children's academic performance. The impact of these problems is exacerbated among children living in poverty. The present study examined the impact of providing eyeglasses to poor children diagnosed with refractive errors. We obtained archival data for all 3rd through 6th graders in one low-income school district in the southern U.S. for a five-year period. During the second study year, a non-profit organization (Kids Vision for Life) screened all students in this district and provided free eyeglasses to children in need. We found that prior to receiving eyeglasses, children with refractive errors performed significantly more poorly than peers on state-mandated tests of Reading and Math. In the third and fourth years, children who had received glasses caught up to or exceeded their peers in test scores and school attendance. These findings suggest that eyeglasses had a positive impact on the elementary school students who received them.