The roots of Children’s Optical trace back to the late 1990s and to its founder, Dr. Scott Arnold. Scott grew up in Minnesota with strong Midwestern values. He earned a Chemistry degree from Minnesota State University, Mankato, then moved west to attend Pacific University’s College of Optometry in Oregon. There, he studied on a U.S. Navy scholarship and went on to serve as a Lieutenant on active duty following graduation.

After completing his service, Dr. Arnold settled in Colorado—a place he quickly came to call home. In 1998, he opened a small family eye practice in Westminster, guided by a simple but powerful goal: to make a meaningful difference in the lives of families, especially children. With nearly half of Colorado’s children covered by state public health insurance programs, Dr. Arnold became a contracted Medicaid provider, ensuring access to eye care for those who needed it most.

Over time, he noticed a troubling pattern. For many families—particularly those relying on Medicaid—getting eyeglasses for their children wasn’t just inconvenient; it was often difficult. In response, Dr. Arnold opened a dedicated Children’s Optical location in Denver’s historic Five Points neighborhood in 2005. Though small in size, the space was built with a big purpose: to make getting glasses for kids welcoming, easy, and accessible.

Soon after, Dr. Arnold formed a natural partnership with the nearby Ophthalmology Clinic at Children’s Hospital in Denver, united by a shared commitment to children’s eye health. When the hospital relocated its eye clinic to Aurora and faced limited ophthalmology coverage, Dr. Arnold stepped in to help, providing clinical support to ensure families continued receiving care. He also created a modest “pop-up” optical shop inside the hospital—simple, effective, and overwhelmingly appreciated by families. That temporary solution soon became the first permanent Children’s Optical location inside Children’s Hospital Colorado (CHCO).

As CHCO expanded its eye clinics across the Front Range, Children’s Optical grew along with it. What began as a family eye care practice and an additional single neighborhood location, expanded into optical shops within CHCO facilities, serving families throughout the Denver metro area and across Colorado in close cooperation with Children's Hospital. Access to Medicaid-covered eyeglasses improved dramatically—and the mission continued to grow.

Over more than 25 years, Dr. Arnold, his expert opticians, and the CHCO eye care team have seen the same challenges repeat themselves. Parents juggling work, childcare, school schedules, and long drives. Children losing or breaking glasses—sometimes even the very day they receive them. Families traveling hours for appointments, only to return again for pickups. The barriers were real, and the stakes were high. Clear vision is essential for learning, vision development, and confidence.

That understanding led to the next chapter. To reduce obstacles for families, Children’s Optical introduced online ordering—eliminating the need for extra trips, rearranged schedules, or long-distance travel. Today, families with Colorado Medicaid can order new or replacement glasses online at childrens-optical.com quickly, easily and with free shipping from anywhere in Colorado.

The mission has never changed—it has only expanded: make it easier for kids to get the eyeglasses they need, when they need them.

Whether your family lives ten minutes from a clinic or five hours away, every child deserves clear vision, and getting glasses should never be a struggle.