SCHOLAR Clinic offers eye care for Columbia students on Medicaid

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Columbia Public Schools students who receive Medicaid are now able to have eye exams and optometry care through the SCHOLAR Clinic, a Thursday press release says.

SCHOLAR Clinic – which is a partnership between Clarity Healthcare and CPS -- hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony on Thursday to celebrate the new eye care offering. The release says SCHOLAR Clinic provides services such as vaccinations, wellness checks, free sports and activities physicals, in-house lab services, optometry and more.  

“Nearly 80% of learning happens through visual processing. Children need clear vision for reading, writing, and even paying attention to teachers. If they can't see properly, it affects their ability to succeed in school, often without the child even realizing it,” SCHOLAR Clinic Optometrist Dr. Sahba Jalal said in the release. “Frequently, children don’t know their vision is impaired because they assume everyone sees the way they do.  A child struggling with poor vision might appear distracted, uninterested, or even misbehave when the real issue is that they simply can't see clearly.” 

Nearly 100 students have received optometry care through the service since the summer.