Foundation hopes to expand eye care to St. Paul students

A nonprofit group is raising money for an expanded vision screening and eye care effort in St. Paul schools.

The St. Paul Public Schools Foundation hopes to raise $500,000 to expand screenings and eye care to students in third, fifth and sixth grades, in addition to the screenings now provided to students in kindergarten and first grade.

• More: Early Youth Eyecare initiative

"Kids' vision can really change rapidly during that time period," said Mike Anderson, the foundation's executive director. "Having more frequent screenings catches kids earlier."

The effort would also provide glasses and surgery to students whose families can't afford follow-up care.

"It's glasses, it's surgery if they need surgery," Anderson said. "[For] any kid who is identified with having a vision problem, there will be follow-up eye care."

The program is part of the Early Youth Eyecare initiative run by Phillips Eye Institute in Minneapolis. A similar effort began in the Minneapolis district in 2008.