The mission of FocusFirst is to provide a cost-effective direct response to the vision problems of underprivileged children who live in urban and rural poverty. FocusFirst strives to ensure that all children, ages six month to five years of age, in low-income areas of Alabama begin their education with the best vision medically possible.  Our long-term goal is to operate a statewide campus-based network of college and graduate students trained to identify and screen children in communities of need throughout Alabama in order to enhance the educational development of children by providing them with the best vision possible.

How Does it Work?

FocusFirst student volunteers travel to communities of need and identify children in Head Start Centers and daycares whose vision impairments have been overlooked or neglected.   Students conduct vision screenings using state-of-the-art photo-screening technology and then assist in obtaining the appropriate treatment and follow-up in a timely manner.

FocusFirst Partners

Vision Research Corporation

The Vision Research Corporation specializes in screening systems and services for the detection of early eye problems in children. VRC produces screening systems for use by pediatricians and others concerned with improved eyesight in children. It also provides large scale eye screening services in school and daycare centers, typically under corporate or government sponsorship.  

Sight Savers of Alabama

Sight Savers of Alabama, a non-profit organization started in 1997, coordinates the activities of community organizations and eye care professionals in The Children's Eye Care Network, providing comprehensive eye care and follow-up services for all kindergarteners in 22 targeted counties who fail vision screenings in the annual Alabama Eye Screening Program conducted by Vision Research Corporation. Sight Savers coordinates eye care from the first eye exam through the completion of treatment (eye exams, eyeglasses, medications, vision aids, surgeries and other prescribed treatment). Sight Savers coordinates the same eye care services for many additional children who are referred by other organizations in these counties. Partners in the Children's Eye Care Network donate all eye exams, all surgeries, and most eyeglasses as in-kind gifts; Sight Savers purchases some medications, eyeglasses, other prescribed treatments and all vision aids.  

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How am I Making a Difference?

Since the launch of the FocusFirst program in November 2004, FocusFirst staff and volunteers have conducted screenings at Head Start and daycare centers, screening over 20,000 children in over 50 different counties across the state of Alabama. A potential vision problem was detected in approximately 11.5% of those children, all of whom received, or are receiving, subsidized follow-up care as necessary. Poor vision adversely affects tens of thousands of children in our state each year, leading to a substandard education.  Vision problems among children have been linked with behavior risks, reduced academic performance and low self-esteem. Children who live in poverty and in violent homes are at increased risks for visual impairment.

It is well recognized that visual screening is most effective in the preschool years where early identification and treatment of many conditions can prevent irreversible vision loss.  When a child is young, the visual system is developing.  Treatment options that are very effective during a child’s early years offer little or no benefit later in life.  For this reason, early vision screening and effective follow-up are vitally important. 

© 2005 Impact Alabama