Realeyes Program Overview
Realeyes is a classroom education program created by the Ohio Optometric Association through a grant from the Ohio Department of Health Save Our Sight Fund. Realeyes includes six standardized, interactive, age-appropriate curricula that are presented by volunteer optometrists in the community. Topics covered include eye anatomy, eye safety and eye disorders.
Click here to view the Realeyes 2019 Apollo Award Video
Pre-K & Kindergarten | Grades 1 and 2 | Grades 3 to 5 | Grades 6 to 8 | Grades 9 to 12 | School-Aged |
Pre-K and Kindergarten: Sammy Safe-Eyes
30 Minutes - Presenter Led
The character, Sammy Safe-Eyes, explains how to take care of the eyes through story-time, games, and songs. Each student receives a take-home packet that includes sheets with eye safety activities.
Grades 1 and 2: The Adventures of Rhet & Tina
45 Minutes - Presenter Led
A video puppet show featuring Rhet and Tina as well as hands-on activities (penlight demonstration of how the pupil shrinks, wearing glasses that simulate vision conditions, tongue twisters, and Simon Says) reinforce the importance of good vision for reading and other daily activities. Each student receives a take-home sheet with activities.
Grades 3 to 5: The Case of Vinny Vision
45 minutes - Presenter Led
Students receive a case packet of optical illusions which keeps them actively engaged to help a detective solve a mystery involving the character, Vinny Vision. The penlight demonstration of how the pupil shrinks is featured. The case packet includes an additional sheet of games and learning opportunities to be done at home.
Grades 6 to 8: What's Your EYE-Q?
45 minutes - Presenter Led
A video presentation that includes demonstrations and lab activities helps students build their EYE-Q about the anatomy of sight, vision disorders, vision diseases, and eye safety. Each student receives a take-home worksheet and vision disease simulator card.
Grades 9 to 12: Biology & Genetics of the Eye
Time Varies - Presenter or Teacher Led
School-Aged Students: Journey Through an Exam
33 minutes - Teacher Led
Email realeyes@ooa.org • Call 614-781-0708
Realeyes is funded by the Ohio Department of Health Bureau of Child and Family Health Save Our Sight Program - www.saveoursight.ohio.gov.
Why Realeyes
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Realeyes volunteers are trained to present the six age-appropriate curricula. Since Realeyes began in 2000, over 1,000,000 students in 39,000+ classrooms have participated! Realeyes - Life of Program
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Realeyes provides education about eye anatomy, eye safety and eye disorders. This contributes to the improvement of the health of Ohioans by fostering relationships between school communities and eye doctors. This lowers barriers and provides access to information about eye and vision care. Pre- and post-tests show Realeyes increases knowledge about eye health, eye safety, and vision care which leads to positive behavioral changes in students.
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The average score from over 16,000 teacher evaluations rate Realeyes at 4.8 out of a possible 5.0.
- The goals and objectives of Realeyes focus on the delivery of educational content, hands-on activities, videos, and resources to students in the classroom and ultimately to family members through materials taken home by students.
Educational Standards Met by Realeyes
Each Realeyes program meets the following standards:
National Health Education Standards
- 1 (Health promotion and disease prevention
- 3 (Reducing health risks)
Local Health District Improvement Standard
- # 3701-36-07-03 (Promote Healthy Lifestyles – Prevention, health promotion, early intervention, and outreach services)
School Improvement Plans
- Level III
Public Health Accreditation Board Standards
- 3.1 (Provide health education and health promotion policies, program, processes, and interventions to support prevention and wellness)
- 3.2 (Provide information on public health issues and public health functions through multiple methods to a variety of audience)
Ohio Academic Standards
- Pre-K and Kindergarten
- B (Physical Sciences)
- D (Reading Applications)
- 1st and 2nd grades
- D (Reading Applications)
- 3rd through 5th grades
- D (Reading Applications)
- F (Physical Sciences)
- 6th through 8th grades
- A (Science and Technology)