Pilot program to offer free eye exams, glasses in some BC schools

In partnership with BC Doctors of Optometry (BCDO), a school-based vision exam pilot program is being launched in the Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) region, providing exams and eyeglasses to children in grade 1 and kindergarten.

The VCH program will roll out in 18 elementary schools across, reaching about 1,000 students. Public health nurses are working with schools and local optometrists to coordinate on-site exams.

BCDO is also covering the cost of eyeglasses for students who require them, ensuring children receive the full spectrum of care at no cost to families.

Parents will have the ability to opt-out of the program by signing a form.

Then, a team of nine optometrists, including those with experience in rural and Indigenous outreach, will conduct exams over a two-to seven-day period at each school, depending on enrollment.

Students who require vision correction will be provided with free eyeglasses. Frames are pre-adjusted on-site, and prescription glasses are distributed through the schools.

"We know that untreated vision problems can have long-term impacts on children's health and learning," said Dr. Ceinwen Pope, Medical Health Officer at Vancouver Coastal Health. "By removing logistical and financial barriers, this pilot makes it easier for children to get the care they need, when they need it."

The results will be examined over the summer, with the possibility of a province-wide roll out.

A parallel program with Interior Health is scheduled for later in 2025, supported by a separate health foundation grant.

The initiative aims to improve early detection of vision problems, support learning outcomes and reduce barriers to care by delivering eye exams directly in schools.

"Early detection is crucial when it comes to children's vision," said Dr. Danielle Campbell, optometrist and co-chair of BCDO's Children's Vision Steering Committee. "We're making it easier for families by bringing eye care to the school. For many children, their first pair of glasses can be life-changing."

In BC, only 27% of five-year-olds received an eye exam in 2024, highlighting the gap in early vision care during critical learning years.

And, data from the BC Early Childhood Vision Screening Program report found that 45.8% of kindergarten children referred for vision care did not visit an eye doctor within one year of their screening referral.

“This trend is especially common in communities facing socioeconomic disadvantages or systemic barriers to accessing services,” said the BCDO.