Comprehensive eye exams and glasses if necessary, for Florida public school students

Comprehensive eye exams and glasses if necessary, for Florida public school students

Submitted by Florida Department of Health

    The Florida Heiken Children’s Vision Program is offering comprehensive eye exams and glasses if necessary, for Florida public school students in your county who qualify to participate. This program is available at no cost to you or your child’s school. Qualifying students are those who have failed their school based vision screening twice, are a participant of the free or reduced school lunch program administered by the Florida Department of Education, and have no insurance.

    If during eligibility verification by the Florida Heiken Children’s Vision Program and the Florida Optometric Physicians Network, your child is found to be enrolled in a participating vision insurance plan, you will be notified by your school and considered ineligible to participate in the program. If your child is able to participate after verification, we will send you a form through your child’s school with the name, address and phone number to a participating doctor, for you to call and schedule an appointment. The doctor will also receive the same form and have your child’s information on file.

    The comprehensive eye exam, administered by an optometrist, includes a thorough examination of your child’s vision, visual system and eye health. In order to perform the examination, the use of eye drops to dilate the pupils is used, which allows the doctor to get the most accurate eye health information and prescription for eye glasses should they benefit your child. The drops are safe to use, and severe adverse reactions are extremely rare. Light sensitivity and blurry near vision are normal for up to four to six hours following the exam.

    For your child to participate, please fill out the attached form completely, sign at the bottom and have your child bring the form back to the school nurse or counselor.

    If you have any questions please contact your child’s school counselor or Statewide Florida Heiken Children’s Vision Program at (305) 856-9830 or 1-888-996-9847.