The 12th annual Black Belt Eye Clinic was held Wednesday in Perry County. Through the clinic, many children in the area had a chance to be evaluated during free eye exams and then were fitted for glasses.

Sight Savers America, a nonprofit children’s eye care network, partnered with the Perry County Health Department, LensCrafters and the University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Ophthalmology to bring the clinic to the Black Belt.

Many in our area can’t afford medical care and those who can are often on a limited budget. A lot of times vision care can be placed on the backburner, but sight is so vital to our youth.

Children that struggle to see often fall behind in school. It’s harder for them to read or to see the board from the back of the classroom, and it usually affects their grades.

We thank those who collaborated to bring the clinic to Perry County again this year. The groups that organize it are truly making a difference every time they visit the area.