just FOR YOU
All Baltimore City public-school students in preschool through eighth grade will be
served by the program. Approximately 45 schools each year participate in the program.
A parent or guardian must sign a consent form in order for the student to receive an
exam and glasses at the school. Exams are provided by licensed eye care professionals
in a mobile clinic. Students who require prescription glasses select frames at the time of
the exam. Glasses are dispensed about two weeks to a month after the exam.
forms you need
The following documents are required in order to participate in Vision for Baltimore.
Please download the requested forms. Once completed, please submit them to your
school leader.
Covid 19 Waiver
Vision Consent Form (English)
Vision Consent Form (Spanish)
Adult Media Consent Form
Child Media Consent Form (Spanish)
Child Media Consent Form
oUR spotlightS
Lost or broken glasses? No
problem. We're here to help.
Click the button below to
begin the process of getting
your replacement pair of
glasses. If the glasses are
damaged or lost within one
year of the dispensing date,
they can be replaced or
repaired at no charge.
It takes a village:
Vision for Baltimore, we found has really stepped up in creative ways to make sure we can provide service and provide it safely. Especially at a time when the need for glasses is all the more great. Our students are online all day and their eyes are strained from looking at a computer screen all day. We appreciate Vision for Baltimore. They have creatively and diligently made sure that we can still get glasses to our students!”
– Rachel Kutler
Community School Coordinator, Tench Tilghman
still have questions?
How important is eye care?
Eye care is extremely important. Poor eyesight can lead to academic, social, and behavioral problems for children. Being able to see the board in the classroom and the books on their desks makes school more fun and less stressful for kids. Improved vision has other benefits too:
- Improved hand-eye coordination;
- More interest in and comfort with reading;
- Fewer headaches, eye strain and other distractions; and
- Better grades and behavior at school.
What is the difference between a vision screening and an eye exam?
The vision screening administered by BCHD is more basic than an eye exam. Screenings usually involve a chart with letters of different sizes, which students are asked to read. BCHD screenings test students’ visual acuity, 3-D vision, eye alignment, and refractive error.
Students who do not pass the vision screening are able—with a signed consent form—to receive an eye exam in VTL’s mobile clinic. The eye exam determines how well a child sees, whether they need glasses and the overall health of their eyes.
Does my school need to apply to participate in Vision for Baltimore?
No application or enrollment process is required. Parents / Guardians do, however, need to sign a consent form in order for their child to receive their follow-up exam in VTL’s mobile vision clinic.
Is my school enrolled in the program?
If you want to know when your school is scheduled for services, or for any other questions, please contact the Vision for Baltimore Program Administrator at visionforbaltimore@baltimorecity.gov.
Are the vision screenings the same in each grade?
Younger children—students in pre-k, kindergarten, and 1st grade—are screened in a different way than older children—students in 2nd grade and above. Only younger children, for example, are screened for 3-D vision, where they are asked to identify a raised letter on a special demonstration card.
For how many days will the VTL mobile clinic be conducting eye exams at our school?
This depends on the number of students at your school who fail the BCHD vision screening and return a consent form signed by a parent or guardian. The VTL team can examine up to about 20 students per day. VTL may need to visit your school on multiple non-consecutive days.
What happens if a student breaks or loses their glasses?
If a student breaks or loses their glasses, please contact BCHD’s Vision for Baltimore Program Administrator at visiontolearn.org/glasses and fill out the form to start the process to receive a replacement pair of glasses.
Will I pay for my child’s eye exam or eyeglasses?
No. There are no out-of-pocket costs associated with Vision for Baltimore; you do not need to pay for any part of the program. All students who return a signed consent form are served, including those without insurance.
If you have Medicaid coverage, your Medicaid provider may be billed for the cost of the eye exam.
Eyeglasses are currently donated by Warby Parker and provided to students at no cost.
Does my child need insurance to participate?
No. Every child may participate regardless of whether they have insurance coverage.
If your child is enrolled in Medicaid, your Medicaid provider may be billed.
When will my child receive their eyeglasses?
Glasses will be mailed to your child’s home several weeks after the eye exam. Students will also receive an eyeglasses case, which will include information about when they need to wear their eyeglasses.
Will students need to miss part of the school day in order to participate in the BCHD vision screenings and the VTL eye exams?
Yes. Vision screenings, eye exams, and glasses fittings will be conducted during the school day. Students should be occupied for no more than 30 minutes for their vision screening; no more than 30 minutes for their eye exam; and no more than 20 minutes for the fitting of their glasses.
The Vision for Baltimore Program Administrator will work with your school to pick dates for screening visits that minimize disruption, and Vision To Learn will provide advance notice of the dates during which they will visit to provide exams and dispense glasses.
Where will BCHD vision screenings take place?
BCHD vision screenings will take place at a location designated by your school’s administrative staff.
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