Eyeglasses to Boost Academic Performance in School

Article: Eyeglasses for School Kids Boosts Academic Performance
Source: Johns Hopkins University
Published: September 9, 2021

Celebration of Vision for Baltimore handing out its 1,000th pair of glasses

Researchers at Johns Hopkins University Wilmer Eye Institute and School of Education conducted a large clinical study, the most robust study in the U.S. to date on the impact of glasses on education. Vision for Baltimore was a project launched by Johns Hopkins researchers in 2016 in an effort to address the acute need for vision care among the city’s public school students. In addition to providing more than $1 million in support, Johns Hopkins works closely with the program team to provide technical assistance. In the five years, the program has tested the vision of more than 64,000 students and distributed more than 8,000 pairs of glasses. Now in its sixth year, Vision for Baltimore is operated and funded in partnership with the Johns Hopkins schools of Education and Medicine, Baltimore City Public Schools, the Baltimore City Health Department, eyewear brand Warby Parker, and national nonprofit Vision To Learn. The study, a three-year randomized clinical trial, analyzed the performance of 2,304 students in grades 3 to 7 who received screenings, eye examinations and eyeglasses from Vision for Baltimore, looking in particular at their scores on standardized reading and math tests over 1 and 2 years. They found significant improvements in math scores in the elementary school grades, and improvements in reading scores in the first year. The researchers encourage sustained use of glasses to maintain gains in academic achievement thereafter. As the senior author of the study states, “We rigorously demonstrated that giving kids the glasses they need helps them succeed in school...[and] has major implications for advancing health and educational equity all across the country.” Johns Hopkins President Ron Daniels adds, “These results validate the dedication of all of the program’s committed partners, from the principals, staff and teachers across Baltimore City schools to the optometrists at Vision to Learn and the school vision advocates from Johns Hopkins. Looking forward, we hope to work with our state and city leaders to ensure that this impactful program has sustainable funding for years to come.”

My rating of this study: ⭐⭐⭐🌸

Neitzel AJ, Wolf B, Guo X, et al. "Effect of a Randomized Interventional School-Based Vision Program on Academic Performance of Students in Grades 3 to 7: A Cluster Randomized Clinical Trial." JAMA Ophthalmology.  139(10):1104-1114. 9 September 2021. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2021.3544