About NFCV
For the past 25 years, the Nebraska Foundation for Children’s Vision has worked cooperatively with the Nebraska Optometric Association to change the landscape for pediatric vision care in the state.
Through NFCV, active collaboration has brought together optometrists, educators, health care providers, and policy makers to expand awareness of consumers, increase access to vision care for children, and elevate the level of vision care provided in schools.
We help parents and educators better identify vision care needs of children. Most vision screenings don't evaluate the multiple aspects of vision that affect learning. And most children don't know what 'normal' vision looks like, so they often won't know if there's something abnormal about what they see or how they read. As a result, one in five children entering school has an undetected vision deficiency that could impact their academic performance or lifestyle. Through better awareness, expanded access to resources, and more comprehensive vision evaluations, we can reduce that number.
We help connect parents and children with the vision care they need through statewide public service programs and charitable care options for underserved families.
Since 2001, NFCV has:
- Increased access to care by providing free comprehensive eye exams and eyeglasses to more than 600 underserved students from 40 schools across Nebraska.
- Optometrists have volunteered for 13 school vision clinics in 10 different communities and have piloted tested three different clinic formats.
- There are numerous options for charitable vision care across the state. However, for children who do not qualify for these programs or have access to other options, the NFCV Sight for School Fund may be an alternative.
- We operate and promote the See to Learn program which provides free vision assessments to 3-year-olds.
- Expanded awareness of how vision care impacts learning through public service and advertising messages, social media outreach and other communication efforts.
- Elevated the level of vision care in schools by advocating for enhanced state guidelines and regulations for school screenings. This resulted in a Nebraska law which requires vision evaluations for children entering school to be more comprehensive than screenings.
What's ahead for NFCV?
In 2026 and beyond, we will continue to partner with key community stakeholders to impact public policies that support the delivery of quality and comprehensive vision care for children. We will work to expand our outreach across Nebraska and to maximize resources for charitable care.
