A new children's eyesight program will be rolling out to select "high-need counties" across Ohio to offer vision services to students, free of charge.
 
 
Mahoning County is one of 15 counties included in the Ohio Student Eye Exam (OhioSEE) Program
 
This comes after Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announced the program as part of his executive budget, passed earlier this year.
 
Students from kindergarten to third grade will have access to free, comprehensive vision services.
 
The Ohio Department of Health (ODH) has selected Ohio Optometric Foundation, Vision to Learn and Health Partners of Western Ohio as the vendors serving the program.
 
ODH stated that the counties in need that have been included in the program had over 80 percent of children who required additional, comprehensive vision care after a vision screening, but do not receive it.
 
"OhioSEE is our pilot program to address the barriers preventing students from receiving the critical eye care they need. We are rolling this out in counties with urgent need, and we hope to include all Ohio counties in the future," Governor DeWine said in a statement.
 
The OhioSEE program is set to serve roughly 14,000 students each year, with vision services available in schools beginning early 2026, according to ODH.
 
Eligible school districts can request further information about enrolling in OhioSEE through the ODH website.