Former first lady visits kids fest

Dallas-Stating that "being able to see clearly is vital to literacy," former first lady Laura Bush stressed the importance of good vision care at the inaugural Kids Vision Fest, presented by the Essilor Vision Foundation and the Kids Vision For Life Coalition at the J. Erik Jonsson Central Library here in January.

More than 1,000 children received vision screenings at the free festival, and about 500 kids received free exams and glasses.

"As a former teacher and librarian, I appreciate the importance of eye exams for students," Bush said. "When a child cannot see well, he or she cannot learn well. Learning to read is fundamental for education, and being able to see clearly is vital to literacy."

She was joined by local government officials and representatives from the Essilor Vision Foundation to address the importance of vision care for children.

"It's all about connecting the dots," said Ed Fjordbak, president and chief executive officer of the Essilor Vision Foundation. "Good vision is so crucial-a child with vision problems has difficulty learning and socializing. If vision problems aren't corrected at a young age, children fall behind and may never catch up."

Fjordbak added that "something as simple as providing glasses to kids can lead to increased literacy, which results in fewer societal problems and, ultimately, a stronger economy."

For more information about the Kids Vision Fest or to donate to the Essilor Vision Foundation, go to http://www.essilorvision.org/ or call 214/496-4217.