A nonprofit organization is providing children in rural areas a brighter and clearer future.

Sight Savers America (SSA), a nonprofit organization that aims to identify unmet health and vision needs that hurt children’s abilities, will hold its 11th annual Rural Eye Clinic.

The clinic will be held April 28 at 10 a.m. at the Perry County Health Department, located at 1748 South Washington St. in Marion.

Healthcare providers from the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Department of Ophthalmology and LensCrafters will provide a free comprehensive exam and glasses to pre-screened children in the area.

About 100 children have already registered for the event, said SSA Communications Coordinator Mickey Ashman.

The clinic will be available by appointment for children who have failed a school-based or local day care vision screening.

On May 12, SSA will return to Marion and provide each child with a free pair of glasses. Children from newborn to age 18 qualify for the clinic.

The organization serves the whole state, but focuses heavily on portions of the state that may lack eye care centers.

SSA director of development Nicole Williams said some children may have to travel outside of the county to receive medical attention.

She said children who have eyesight issues might have problems in school or their daily lives.

“The interesting thing is kids often don’t know they don’t see well because that’s how it’s always been for them,” Williams said.

To schedule an appointment or be placed on a waiting list, call 877-942-2627.