VisionQuest 20/20’s founder, Dr. James O’Neil, was frustrated from telling too many parents that their child was partially and permanently blind because a simple vision disorder wasn’t detected early enough or tested appropriately, so he decided to do something about it. The Arizona-based and nationally-recognized pediatric ophthalmologist, along with engineer, Richard Tirendi, developed a state-of-the-art vision screening system, EyeSpy 20/20, and formed VisionQuest 20/20 to help end preventable causes of vision loss by dramatically improving the accuracy, affordability and accessibility of vision screenings for children.

Your support will make it possible for VisionQuest 20/20 to serve more children, ensure they have the ability to achieve their full potential, and save millions of dollars that will be otherwise lost in life-long productivity and medical bills.

Children Can’t Learn If They Can’t See!

When children struggle from unidentified vision deficits, they suffer from a host of quality of life issues including academic, physical, behavioral and psycho-social underperformance. But vision disorders not only impact the children who have vision deficits, they impact every child. That’s because the pace of the classroom slows when even a single child struggles in class due to an unidentified vision deficit, impacting every child’s ability to achieve their full academic potential. As a result, this is not only a significant public health issue, it’s also an education issue.

Prevalence and Severity

Vision disorders are prevalent and severe, with up to 1 in 4 children struggling with vision deficits and 5% susceptible to amblyopia, or “lazy eye”, which can cause monocular blindness. Children’s vision should be evaluated annually since eyes develop throughout the school-age years. The good news is that most vision disorders can be inexpensively and effectively treated when caught early. The most practical and cost effective way to detect vision problems early, is through accurate, annual vision screenings.

Parent Misperceptions

Does your child listen to music on an old phonograph? Do you drive a Model T? Then why would you rely on 100+ year old technology to test your child’s eyesight?

Many parents mistakenly believe they can rely on annual vision screenings provided by schools and/or pediatricians. Yet the majority of schools do not perform annual vision screenings because they are not mandated in Arizona. When vision screenings are provided, the most common method used is the 100+ year-old wall chart. Whether proctored in school or at a doctor’s office, wall chart vision screenings are error-prone because proctors are often improperly trained and children can memorize the chart or peek during the test. So, even if a child does receive a vision screening, the accuracy of the results is questionable.

VisionQuest 20/20 HAS Solutions!

VisionQuest 20/20 was formed in 2003 when our founders recognized an opportunity to significantly advance the accuracy of vision screenings by computerizing the vision screening test.

Since then, we have developed a state-of-the-art vision screening system, EyeSpy 20/20, that is accurate, affordable and accessible. It has been independently validated by the world-renowned Medical University of South Carolina’s Storm Eye Institute. Having received funding from many of Arizona’s major foundations including Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust, St. Luke’s Health Initiatives, BHHS Legacy Foundation, The Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust, Arizona Community Foundation and others, we have performed nearly more than 160,000 vision screenings to date.

Last year, we developed capabilities to use EyeSpy 20/20 as a fundraiser in order to make it available to schools at no cost by offering potential for schools and parent groups to actually make money through donor recognition opportunities.

This year, we are launching the 2013 See to Succeed campaign and resources to let everyone know that there is literally no reason any child needs to struggle to see the chalkboard, hit a ball or see leaves on a tree!

Be a part of our efforts to help solve a significant public health and education issue by supporting VisionQuest 20/20! Your support will help ensure every child can see and succeed!

JOIN us by making YOUR donation TODAY…and please spread the word by SHARING this information!