The YMCA of Delaware is partnering with Vision To Learn, a nonprofit charity organization dedicated to providing access to eye care. Registered YMCA campers at six locations this summer will receive free vision screenings, eye exams and prescription eyeglasses through Vision To Learn's mobile clinic practitioners.

The Vision To Learn team will visit the Sussex Family YMCA during camp hours Friday, July 31, at 20080 Church St., Rehoboth Beach.

Through Vision To Learn’s mobile clinic, children who may not otherwise have access to affordable eye care receive comprehensive services at no cost to their families. Children who require glasses will have them mailed directly to their homes free of charge.

“When a child can't see clearly, it affects so much more than their vision – it can impact their confidence, learning and ability to fully participate in school and everyday activities," said Georganne Buccine, vice president of youth development for the YMCA of Delaware. "This partnership ... helps remove a barrier that many families face and ensures more children have the opportunity to succeed, both in the classroom and throughout their lives.”

Vision problems are one of the most common and often overlooked barriers to learning. According to one study, in low-income communities, 95% of children who need glasses do not have them. Because nearly 80% of learning during a child's first 12 years is visual, untreated vision issues can negatively impact reading, academic performance, confidence and overall well-being.

Since launching in Delaware in 2014, Vision to Learn has provided more than 25,000 eye exams and 20,000 pairs of glasses to students throughout the state.