St. Paul Eye Clinic Foundation

Why We Created the Foundation

At St. Paul Eye Clinic, we believe that everyone deserves access to exceptional eye care—regardless of their background, income, or insurance status. As a recognized 501(c)(3) charitable organization, the St. Paul Eye Clinic Foundation ("the Foundation") was established to bridge the gap between need and access, ensuring that no one is left behind when it comes to preserving their vision.

We created the Foundation to:

Provide charitable eye care services to underserved individuals and families.
Support community outreach programs that promote eye health education and early detection.
Engage in innovative research and clinical studies that improve patient outcomes and advance the field of ophthalmology.
Empower the next generation of eye care professionals through training and support.

Our Goals

Our mission is clear: to restore sight, improve lives, and build a healthier future for our community. We pursue this through:

Access to Care: Offering free or reduced-cost eye exams, surgeries, and treatments to those in need. From kids that rely on vision to learn to the adult who longs to see a grandchild, we do not want lack of access to be a barrier to life's greatest moments.
Community Engagement: Hosting vision screening events, school partnerships, and public education campaigns.
Research & Innovation: Supporting clinical research that leads to better treatments and surgical techniques.
Education & Training: Providing resources and mentorship for those in ophthalmology.

The Overlooked Link Between Sight and School Success

At St. Paul Eye Clinic Foundation, we believe that clear vision is essential for a child’s ability to learn, grow, and thrive. While it may seem obvious, research and clinical experience show that vision problems are often misdiagnosed or overlooked, especially in children labeled as “problem learners.”

According to our internal research:

1 in 4 children has a vision problem that can affect school performance.
60% of students identified as struggling learners have undiagnosed vision issues.
Vision problems can mimic symptoms of ADHD, learning disabilities, or behavioral disorders.

What Skills Are Affected?

Vision is more than just seeing clearly. Children need a range of visual skills to succeed in school:

Visual Acuity: Seeing clearly at different distances—from the whiteboard to their desk.
Eye Focusing: Adjusting focus between near and far objects.
Eye Teaming: Coordinating both eyes to work together.
Visual Perception: Understanding and interpreting visual information.

When these skills are impaired, children may struggle with:

Reading fluency and comprehension
Writing and spelling
Classroom participation
Homework completion

What the Experts Say

In Childhood Reading Problems, we understand that while poor reading is not usually caused by eye problems, undiagnosed vision issues can exacerbate learning challenges. She cautions against ineffective treatments like colored lenses or balance exercises, and instead advocates for:

Comprehensive eye exams
Early identification of learning disabilities
Parental involvement and encouragement

Meet Our Leaders

The Foundation is guided by a passionate team of physicians, community leaders, and advocates who are committed to making a difference.

Scott Kulstad

CEO, St. Paul Eye Clinic

Dr. Aaron Tsai, MD

Foundation President

Dr. Susan Quick, MD

Dr. Margaret (Maggie) Strampe, MD

Dr. Melissa Lopez, OD

Mike Ingeman

Vice President of Finance

Join Us in Making a Difference

Your generosity can help someone see their child’s face clearly for the first time. It can help a student read the board at school. It can restore independence to a senior struggling with vision loss.