About our Statewide Florida Heiken Children's Vision Program

The American Optometric Association reports that 1-in-4 children has vision problems which may contribute to poor school performance, behavior issues and delinquency. Their research shows that literacy can be improved with early intervention. To read the full text of this article, click here. With corrective lenses, children are able to read their assignments, see the board, and learn to their fullest potential. Their prospects for succeeding in school improve immeasurably.

The mission of the Statewide Florida Heiken Children's Vision Program is to make sure that all financially disadvantaged schoolchildren who fail their vision screening have access to a comprehensive eye examination including dilation and glasses, if required, to give them the best chance at academic success. These no cost services are offered statewide, either on-site at schools via five mobile eye clinics or by our network of over 1,000 participating optometrists statewide.

7.5% of low-income schoolchildren receiving a comprehensive eye exam are referred for medical intervention for retinal tears, glaucoma and other eye abnormalities that left undetected could lead to permanent vision loss. Approximately 64% of all children examined through the Heiken program required and received prescription eyeglasses, confirming the importance of a follow-up eye exam after a student fails the state-mandated vision screening.

Funded by the Health Foundation of South Florida, a market research survey was conducted by Eliza Corp of 1,500 families whose child had received prescription eyeglasses during the 2019-2020 school year from our Florida Heiken Children's Vision Program. 77% of respondents reported that their child had improved in school because of the services provided by our Heiken Program and 96% of the respondents found the program valuable.

2022-2023 Florida Heiken Satisfaction Survey Results

The Heiken program undertakes its critically important work with funding from the Florida Department of Health, and additional funding from The Children's Trust, The Miami Foundation, Lions Clubs International Foundation, Baptist Health Foundation, AD Henderson Foundation, Quantum Foundation, other private foundations and individual donors.

History of our Statewide Florida Heiken Children's Vision Program

The Heiken Children's Vision Fund was created in 1992 by the Dade County Optometric Association, and merged with the Miami Lighthouse in 2007. In 2010, the Statewide Florida Heiken Children's Vision Program, LLC, a division of Miami Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired, Inc., was registered with the State of Florida, expanding vision health services to low-income children statewide.

Governance oversight of the program is provided by the President, Secretary and Treasurer of the LLC; oversight of the program is provided by the Statewide Florida Heiken Children's Vision Program Advisory Committee comprised of optometrists, ophthalmologists and representatives from foundations and school districts. Click here to view the roster of Statewide Florida Heiken Children's Vision Program Advisory Committee members.

The Miami Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired Florida Heiken Children's Vision Program is partially funded by The Children's Trust. The Children's Trust is a dedicated source of revenue established by voter referendum to improve the lives of children and families in Miami-Dade County.