SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Mix summer, kids and baseball and you have a good chance of scoring a home run!

VSP has partnered with seven state optometric associations, optometric schools and minor league ballparks to host Kids Get Focused events. The events are taking place throughout July and August to focus attention on the importance of good vision and the need for regular eye exams.

"Eye exams for children are essential to their health as well as their success at school," said VSP Board Chair Catherine Amos, O.D.. "Kids Get Focused is a fun way to educate parents and the community about the importance of eyecare for young people."

In each host city, about 100 children from a local Boys & Girls Club or YMCA are gathering at the ballparks where the optometric schools provide vision testing for each child. In most cities, the children are participating in batting, pitching and catching drills wearing glasses that blur their vision so they can experience what is it like not to be able to see clearly.

Participating kids are being treated to ballpark tours and talks from the players about the importance of good vision for sports performance.

Following the vision testing, the children who are identified as having a vision problem are referred to an eyecare specialist for a comprehensive exam. Assistance is available to low-income, uninsured children through VSP's Sight for Students program.

At the evening game, one of the children will throw out the first pitch and kids will participate in seventh inning stretch activities. Educational information is available to all game attendees as well as literature on children's vision courtesy of the American Optometric Association. The ball clubs are posting messages on the scoreboards about the importance of good vision and doctors from the associations and schools are on hand to answer vision-related questions.

The events are happening at the ballparks of the Memphis Red Birds, Birmingham Barons, West Michigan Whitecaps, Portland Beavers, Columbus Clippers, Sacramento River Cats and Indianapolis Indians.

VSP provides eyecare benefit plans that range from comprehensive eye examinations and materials to complete medical and surgical eyecare. With nearly 37 million members nationwide, more than one in 10 people in the United States rely on VSP for eyecare health coverage. For more information about VSP, visit the online "newsroom" at www.vsp.com.

###