Early Youth Eyecare (E.Y.E.) Program and Kirby Puckett Eye Mobile Program
The Early Youth Eyecare (E.Y.E.) Community Initiative of Phillips Eye Institute - a department of Abbott Northwestern Hospital, provides vision screenings and subsequent treatment services to children in Minneapolis and St. Paul Public Schools. The Kirby Puckett Eye Mobile, a mobile eye clinic, brings this service to them.
Learn more
About E.Y.E.
Vision screening is an efficient and economical method for detecting unknown vision problems. Children are not always aware that they have a vision problem. Routine screening helps to remove poor vision as a roadblock to school performance and success in other areas of daily life.
In addition to providing vision screening services for children in kindergarten, first, third, fifth and seventh grades, E.Y.E. works with families to identify and remove barriers to receiving treatment. This includes coordinating and funding vision care, along with providing interpreters and transportation for vision care needs for students in pre-kindergarten through the start of ninth grade.
The program serves more than 27,000 students annually.
About the Kirby Puckett Eye Mobile
The Kirby Puckett Eye Mobile is the E.Y.E. program’s mobile eye clinic.
With two fully-equipped exam rooms and an optical shop on board, the eye mobile is an eye doctor's office on wheels. The eye mobile and its team of eye care professionals travel to Minneapolis and St. Paul Public Schools to provide eye exams for children in need who have been screened by our Early Youth Eyecare Community Initiative.
The Kirby Puckett Eye Mobile also provides vision screening services for children and adults at community or school events. Call 612-262-8968 for more information.
The eye mobile is named after the late Kirby Puckett, who was an advocate for eye health awareness and a Minnesota Twins center fielder.
How you can help
Volunteer
Volunteers are needed to help with vision screening in Minneapolis and St. Paul public schools. Volunteers must be 16 years old and older. All training is provided and volunteer options are flexible. Volunteer teams are also welcome. If you are interested, please complete our volunteer application form. For more information, call 612-262-8964 or email eye@allina.com.
Donate
Donations help the E.Y.E. Community Initiative provide vision screenings and follow-up care when needed.
To donate, go to our donation site and select "Phillips Eye Institute EYE Program" or "Phillips Eye Institute Kirby Puckett Eye Mobile" in the Give To dropdown box.