September 5, 2025, Press Release from the Office of Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine:
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and Ohio Department of Health (ODH) Director Bruce Vanderhoff, MD, MBA, today announced the details of a new children's eyesight program, OhioSEE.
In 2024, Governor DeWine formed the Children's Vision Strike Force to come up with a solution to the gap in Ohio students' vision care. The group found that only about one-fourth (26%) of Ohio students who need additional vision care actually receive it. The recommendations from the group are now being implemented through OhioSEE.
“Children must be able to see clearly in order to read, which is absolutely essential to a child's learning process,” said Governor DeWine. “But, unfortunately, we know that children who need vision care often do no receive it. That's why it's imperative we help children and families get the critical vision services they desperately need.”
“This is a historic opportunity for us to make a profound difference in a child’s future, at the beginning of their educational years, by assuring they have their best chance to learn,” said Dr. Vanderhoff.
ODH will administer OhioSEE, which will serve kindergarten through 3rd-grade students in high-priority counties. Fifteen counties were identified as having the greatest need where more than 80% of children who fail a school vision screening do not receive follow-up care.
OhioSEE will fund mobile vision vans and temporary in-school vision clinics to deliver comprehensive eye exams directly in schools, removing common barriers such as transportation, cost, and limited provider availability. ODH estimates the program will serve up to 14,000 children per year once it is fully implemented. OhioSEE services are expected to begin early next year.
Building upon the vision services available through school-based health clinics established by Governor DeWine and ODH, OhioSEE will bring these critical services to additional schools.
OhioSEE counties include Allen, Butler, Clark, Clermont, Cuyahoga, Erie, Franklin, Guernsey, Huron, Jackson, Lorain, Mahoning, Marion, Montgomery, and Ross.
Studies have shown that 80% of a child’s learning comes through their sense of sight, and that reading scores of children who got glasses increased significantly compared to those students who received glasses later.
Funding for OhioSEE is a partnership with the Ohio General Assembly through the 2026-2027 state operating budget.
An official Request for Proposals (RFP) was released today to select qualified providers. Schools will receive information about enrolling in the program later this fall.
