WE DESIGN, DEVELOP, TEST, AND DISTRIBUTE TECHNOLOGIES TO HELP INCREASE AWARENESS AND PROVIDE ACCESS TO ALL COMMUNITIES ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF FUNCTIONAL VISION IN CHILDREN'S LEARNING
We provide pediatric Eye Exams, Functional Vision Evaluations, and Therapy programs through our Mobile Vision Clinic and Bothell, WA Headquarters.
We train school personnel, eye doctors, and other professionals about vision related to learning and evidence based interventions.
We develop software and hardware technology tools that improve access and effectiveness in the diagnosis and treatment of learning related vision problems.
We conduct research on the role of vision in the learning process and the effectiveness of technological solutions.
Twenty-five percent of school children have vision issues that impact learning according to the Washington Board of Health4. Vision issues may include high refractive errors, amblyopia, strabismus, ocular health, and near vision dysfunctions such as convergence insufficiency. Ideally, the first four categories are identified early in the birth to five age through regular well-child pediatric visits and eye exam referrals. School vision screenings can function as a backup if vision issues are missed early on. The last category - near vision dysfunction - generally emerges as a child encounters the extensive vision demands of academics. School screening should be sensitive for this condition. Furthermore, an effective screening should be connected to an established and evidence based intervention. Research at the EYE Center revolves around questions concerning near vision function, and effective treatment protocols that are accessible and economical. Such research must be applied and proven within communities of need. Thus, it is essential that the EYE Center delivers services to children in order to measure results and iteratively improve systems of screenings, evaluations, and interventions.
We visualize the EYE Center involving four pillars supporting a comprehensive research activity system that fosters an agile and iterative cycle of public knowledge generation towards more effective solutions. And we prove the solutions viable in real world contexts. The pillars are an emphasis on education, research, tools, and services.
The EYE Center’s position is that to effectively address the challenge of near vision dysfunction, an entire system must be developed. It is not enough to create a new test, treatment, or technology alone. The system must address human activity, as well as technological innovation. And the system must demonstrate its effectiveness through publishable evidence, and improve its effectiveness through an agile and iterative process. Our mission revolves around progressively formalizing such a system through related goals of education, service, research, and tools development.
The EYE Center has developed prototypes of the following necessary technologies in preparation for providing services through the EYE Center. Currently, these include: