About Us

Background 

 Friends for Sight was established in 1955 as Prevent Blindness Utah. Our purpose is to provide vision screening for children for Amblyopia (Lazy-Eye Blindness) and preserve sight. Since 1955, over 541,903 children – that’s over “A Million eyes” – have been screened. In addition, over 390,355 adults have been screened for Glaucoma, the sneak thief of sight. Since we established the high school drivers training vision screening program in March of 2001, 112,406 students have been screened in schools throughout the state. 

Program/Project Description 

 Children’s vision screening is important at any age, ideally at age 3, when children’s eyes are developing binocular vision. A child will not complain about poor vision, because they don’t know how well they should see. Poor vision does not cause nor is it accompanied by any external signs. Amblyopia remains our number one concern, because the window of detection and treatment is narrow – between the ages of 3 and 7 years old – after which the child may be legally blind for life in the Amblyopic eye. 

Sight for Students Program 

 Through the nationwide Vision Service Plan, we are able to provide eye exams and glasses to children whose families cannot afford treatment or who do not have vision insurance. We have provided eye glasses for 1,456 children in Utah since 1999, through this program. 

For years the fight against Glaucoma, a major cause of blindness, has been undermined by late detection and treatment. Early detection of Glaucoma remains the key factor in preventing blindness from Glaucoma. Three million Americans are affected by the disease, but half of them don’t know it because Glaucoma progresses so slowly. Though doctors are turning to genetics and technology to help determine the propensity for the disease, early detection remains the key factor. Unfortunately, Glaucoma remains a leading cause of blindness in the United States. 

Program Summary: Fiscal Year ending March 2010

Preschool Vision Screening – 10,606 children were screened at 143 locations in Salt Lake, Ogden and Provo. 126 volunteers who spent 2,203 hours screening for this program made this accomplishment possible. These screenings included the Headstart schools in Salt Lake and Ogden. 

Adult Vision Services -including Glaucoma Alert and Eyewatch. We directly touched 8,741 adults throughout the state of Utah. 

Visual Acuity and Eye Safety – though they don’t prevent blindness themselves, these educational and informative services preserve sight and touch thousands of individuals 

Driver License Check Off – this program started off fast and furious! Instructors are thrilled to have a screening program like this. Many students haven’t had their eyes tested since the 5th grade. We have screened 112,406 students through this program.