An estimated 100 children from the LAPD Mission PALS program and local community members received free same-day eye examinations, frames and prescription lenses during a special vision care event presented at the Mid Valley Senior Citizen Center in Panorama City.
The Aug. 26 event was open to all participants in the local PALS program, which offers enrichment activities for at-risk kids ages 7-17 with LAPD officers as their tutors, coaches and counselors, with the goal of promoting trust between young people and law enforcement.
In addition, eligible area community members (without vision care insurance and with a family income up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level guidelines) were also invited to participate by scheduling an appointment for the day of the event. Participants received free on-site eye exams and the majority received their prescription eyeglasses on the same day.
The vision care event was presented by VSP Vision – a national not-for-profit vision benefits company that provides no-cost vision care through its Eyes of Hope program – in partnership with Power of Sight Foundation, which offers complimentary exams and glasses in California.
According to Kiley Anderson of VSP Vision, clear vision is required for about 80 percent of learning. Unfortunately, approximately one in four school-aged children live with a vision impairment because they lack access to adequate vision care, including annual eye exams.