© 2026 Prevention of Blindness Society of Metropolitan Washington. All Rights Reserved.
At one of our weekend eye clinics last year, we saw 93 people. The 93rd person came in only to keep a friend company. She felt fine, but agreed to a quick check.
The pressure in one of her eyes was about double the healthy level, a sign she could soon lose her sight. She needed emergency eye care that day. But she didn’t speak English. One of our volunteers, a nurse practitioner, spoke her language, and she got the care she needed.
I keep thinking about what would have happened if we had stopped at 90.
Whether you give, volunteer, partner with us, or take part in our programs, THANK YOU! You help us keep going for the 93rd person. Below, we share one program at a time, so you can see what we did together last year.
We’re so glad you’re part of the POB family.
Caren Forsten, CEO
cforsten@youreyes.org
(202) 234-1010
7,837 vision screenings for children
4,342 eye exams for kids and adults who might not have gotten one
6,300+ pairs of glasses for people who needed them
1,994 people referred for follow-up eye care
1,470 calls to our Seeing Hope Information and Resource Hotline from people with vision loss and their families
See For Yourself
Glaucoma takes sight slowly and without warning. Due to low incomes and a lack of insurance, many of the adults we see haven’t had an eye exam in years. Last year, 912 people got a free eye exam at our clinics, and 618 left with new glasses. Our volunteer doctors identified glaucoma risk signals in 107 people. And POB volunteers and staff helped each of them plan their next steps.
Bright Eyes Children’s Vision Screening
When POB began in 1936, our very first program was checking children’s eyes. Ninety years later, it’s still at the heart of what we do.
Young children rarely say “I can’t see.” They just squint, struggle, or get labeled as inattentive.
Last program year, we visited 47 preschools and daycares, where 2,628 young kids had their eyes checked. For 257 of them, we found possible problems early, when they’re easiest to treat. When we find a problem, we connect families with eye doctors.
2,628 vision screenings at preschools and daycares
257 children referred for follow-up care
I really liked the efficiency of the visits. The process was organized and allowed students to be screened without taking too much time away from the school day.
Glasses4Scholars
When a child can’t see clearly, school gets harder. Our eye doctor’s office on wheels comes right to school, so students can get an eye exam and glasses during the school day, all at no cost to families.
Last program year, we visited 84 schools, where students received 3,430 eye exams and 5,699 pairs of glasses. Students who needed glasses got two pairs: one for school and one for home.
5,209 vision screenings for K-12 students
3,430 eye exams at school
5,699 pairs of glasses for students
Behind every number is a student with greater access to the vision care they need to learn and thrive.
For weeks, one fifth grader came to class in broken glasses held together with tape and even pipe cleaners, until they broke beyond repair. Without them, he couldn’t see. His prescription was complex, and new lenses can be costly. Our Glasses4Scholars team made sure he got two new pairs.
When his new glasses were placed on his face, the room filled with emotion. He was overcome with tears because, quite simply, he could see again.
Affordable Eyeglasses Clinic
Glasses shouldn’t be a luxury. At our Affordable Eyeglasses Clinic, a basic pair of glasses costs $40, including frames. If someone can’t afford that, we lower the price, all the way to zero. Without insurance, a pair of glasses costs about $350 on average (GoodRx).
Last program year, we provided more than 1,300 pairs of custom eyeglasses for children and adults. We also started accepting Medicaid, so that even more families can get the glasses they need.
Through our partnership with So Others Might Eat (SOME), we also provide free prescription glasses every week to DC neighbors experiencing homelessness and poverty.
1,300+ pairs of custom eyeglasses
$40 or less for a basic pair, frames included
This nonprofit organization is truly a gem... The process was easy, effortless, and exceptional... [We got] a next day appointment after my son and I went months without our eyeglasses that we’re required to wear daily.
Seeing HopeSM
In January, all of our programs for people with vision loss came together under one name: Seeing Hope.
Last program year, nearly 1,500 calls came in to our Seeing Hope Information and Resource Hotline, often from people who were newly diagnosed and unsure where to turn. Many came from daughters, sons, and spouses looking for help for someone they love.
POB also started offering Low Vision exams. In just nine months, our team of low vision rehabilitation specialists, led by Clinical Director Dr. Suleiman Alibhai, gave 634 exams to patients ranging from young children to people in their 90s.
At more than 210 free visits to our Low Vision Resource Centers, people tried magnifiers, set up their phones to read aloud, and found ways to keep doing what they love.
634 Low Vision exams
210+ Low Vision Resource Center visits
1,470 calls to our Seeing Hope Information and Resource Hotline
When I first saw you last year I told you that I wanted to be able to read my mail. Now I can!
Seeing Hope keeps growing. Dr. Jennifer Wood, a low vision specialist, joined the team. A grant from the Inspiration Foundation brought AI-powered smart glasses and new video magnifiers to our Low Vision Resource Centers.
Thank you for spending this time with us. Everything you read about happened because of people like you.
Caren Forsten, CEO
*Program data from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026.
© 2026 Prevention of Blindness Society of Metropolitan Washington. All Rights Reserved.