Vision Is Priceless

MISSION:

The mission of Vision Is Priceless is to restore sight, hope, and opportunity by providing vision screening—and delivering eye exams, glasses, and specialty care for underserved adults and children in Northeast Florida.

VISION:

Everyone has access to the vision care they need.

HISTORY:

Vision Is Priceless (VIP) was established in 1996 in Jacksonville, Florida, by a group of volunteers and eye care professionals who recognized a critical need for accessible vision care for underserved children and adults. What began as a grassroots effort to provide free vision screenings has grown into a leading nonprofit organization serving the entire Northeast Florida region. Today, through its Sight in Schools Children’s Vision Program and Adult Vision Healthcare Program, VIP ensures that individuals of all ages have access to essential vision screenings, eye exams, prescription glasses, and specialty care regardless of income or insurance status.

Through strong community partnerships with local schools, healthcare providers, and volunteer eye care professionals, VIP continues to remove barriers to vision health—helping people see clearly so they can learn, work, and thrive.

We provide free vision screenings, eye exams, glasses, and specialty eye care, to children and adults in Northeast Florida (Duval, Clay, St. Johns and Nassau counties). Our two core programs include our Sight in Schools Children's Vision Program and our Adult Vision Program.

The goal of our Sight in Schools Children’s Vision Program is to eliminate treatable vision problems for students so they can have a better chance at success at school, and in life. We do this by providing vision screenings for the early detection of vision problems to students. We work with child development centers, preschools, and independent, charter, and private schools, to provide over 37,000 vision screenings for children annually. We also work to address health disparities affecting economically disadvantaged children in Northeast Florida by bringing a licensed Optometrist to schools in low-income neighborhoods in our community. Our partner doctor provides comprehensive eye exams, including dilation, utilizing our mobile exam equipment. Students needing glasses will pick out their frames with the doctor during the clinic. The eye exam and glasses are 100% free to the student. This reduces all access and expenses barriers for students in need to receive vision care. We are the only nonprofit in Northeast Florida providing free school-based comprehensive eye exams for K-12 students in need.

Through our Adult Vision Healthcare Program, we improve access to vision care for adults in need. Adults who have an income that is at or below 200% of the federal poverty level and lack insurance, qualify for a free eye exam through our program. We help clients complete the Florida Department of Health financial eligibility paperwork during the screening process. Our team schedules eye exam appointments for our clients with one of our 60 volunteer partner doctors. Our partner doctors provide eye exams at their practices located throughout the city or at one of our Vision Is Priceless Vision Healthcare Clinics. After receiving an eye exam, clients are fitted for prescription glasses.