Vision First Foundation
Let's bring children's vision into the 21st century.
Make a difference in the eyes of a child
Welcome to Vision First Foundation!
Your resource and advocate for children's vision.
Vision First is committed to comprehensive eye and vision examinations. Let's bring children's vision into the 21st century.
The Kids Eyes Count Campaign supports our mission—to raise the standards of eye care for our children's visual welfare.
Here you'll find answers, help, and hope:
- Report forms every parent, school, and eye doctor can use
- Prewritten letters make it easy for schools
- Fact sheets filled with tips for success
- Standard and custom materials to meet your needs
Follow three simple steps and you can be a part of our campaign! Academic learning is estimated to be 80% visual. No child should experience school with a hidden eye or vision problem.
Make a difference in the eyes of a child. Join our campaign today!
Amy Needs Glasses?!
"I'm proud to report Amy is an avid reader and honor roll student today who loves school. All because she had an eye exam and received the glasses she needed." Here is a short poem of why Vision First began. Read more...
Fact Sheets
Amy's Law
Illinois is the first state to require parental notification that vision screening is not a substitute for an eye examination. Does your state give parents a choice? Read more...
The Optometric Four Horsemen and Cavalry
The Optometric Four Horsemen and Cavalry support the efforts of Mrs. Janet Hughes and Vision First Foundation. Optometry has the knowledge and skills to solve many classroom problems. Read more...
Illinois' Eye Exam Law
The story behind
Senate Bill 641
Illinois passed two vision laws in four years. Together, we made a difference. Read more...
Vision First applauds the Illinois House and Senate members for turning a vetoed bill into Illinois law!
"Kudos to the Illinois Federation of Teachers and Illinois PTA for adopting the resolution I prepared, Required Vision Examination Before Entering Kindergarten, and taking it straight to the top with chief sponsors Senator Deanna Demuzio and Representative Jil Tracy.
Congratulations to all involved, including the Illinois Optometric Association, the Illinois Association of School Boards, and Senator Christine Radogno for their support.
Children deserve the best start for learning in school. Thank you for making this goal a reality.
May Illinois be a model to other states across the nation."
Janet V. Hughes, Founder and President
Vision First Foundation
October 10, 2007
"For Illinois" versions
These documents reference Illinois law. View "For Illinois" here...
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A Mother's MissionFrom the founder and president |
"Shocked that vision screenings missed my children's vision problems, I learned vision screenings are inadequate. I took action for change. " Read more...
Save a Child's Vision
Vision screenings or eye exams? Learn the difference and see what's best. This video helped pass Illinois’ eye exam law and can help you, too. Click the photo above to view the video on our website or go to YouTube and view here...
Produced by the Illinois Optometric Association in 2004. Winner of the Healthy Eyes, Healthy People grant awarded by the National Eye Institute.
In loving memory of Dr. Floyd Woods, founding Vision First Foundation secretary/treasurer
Dr. Woods saw double as boy, until a thorough optometrist corrected his vision problem with glasses. He wanted no other child to struggle as he did.
He believed vision screenings were inadequate and “nothing less than comprehensive eye and vision examinations by an eye doctor was good enough for our children…period!”
Read his tribute here...
Donate in his memory here...
In loving memory of Dr. Irving Kernis, Vision First Honorary Board Member
Dr. Kernis always wanted the best for children. He knew complete exams by an eye doctor were the only way to find eye and vision problems. He often said, “What if a vision screening missed your child?”