Orange County Mobile Eye Clinic
Both Shirley and I in the course of our blogging sometimes forget about Eyecare Professionals Who Give Back. Fortunately we have some of our subscribers who remind us of Eyecare Professionals who have made a committment to Giving Back. Optometry Giving Sight, Dr, Victory J. Connors and Stephen Schock OD devote much time to support Optometry Giving Back, Robert Bell who help with the homeless in San Francisco area just to name a few who donate time to the needy.
Then we have the Mobile Eye Care Program for the homeless and uninsured in Orange County, California. Sam Hahn of South Coast Eye is an optician who gives back. He sent us the latest update from the last Mobile Eyecare Program:
‘The Mobile Multi-Service Center clinic added Vision Care services to the list of extensive services offered free to the community. Over 250 homeless and low-income individuals received free medical and vision care, and were connected to medical and social resources.
A special thank you to all of the volunteer doctors, nurses, and supporters who stayed an extra TWO hours to ensure every client received care.
The Line For Vision Care
Vision Care services are critical for the high-risk homeless of Orange County. Federal data shows that OC has one of the highest proportions of overweight children and teens compared to the national average. The high-risk of diabetes and eye disease for these children increases the need for vision care. Last summer, the State Government cut glasses benefits to most of the adult MediCal population. Vision care services added to the MMSC provide free access to prescription eye glasses for all ages.
Mobile Eye Care Clinic for Homeless in Orange County
Mission Statement: To prevent the spread eye disease through early detection and improve the sight among the many thousands of homeless and impoverished children and adults in Orange County.
Who we are: We are a group of volunteer ophthalmologists, optometrists, opticians, and technicians working in affiliation with the Orange County Health Care Agency, The Lestonnac Free Clinic, and the nonprofit Illumination Foundation.
How we serve: We hold free clinics every couple of months at various sites throughout Orange County. All patients are seen directly by an eye doctor, screened for any type of eye disease, and prescribed eye glasses as needed. Patients with an existing eye condition or at risk for future eye disease are referred for follow up treatment. Our clinic has on-site representatives from Medi-Cal and MSI, to help patients with eye disease obtain access to the ongoing ophthalmic care they need. Those patients who are ineligible for any type of insurance will be referred to The Lestonnac Free Clinic for their needed follow up treatment. All patients in need of prescription eyeglasses will be fitted for a new pair of free prescription eye glasses which will be delivered to the clinic site two weeks later for pick up.
What we need: Our program needs support in the following ways:
1) Volunteer Eye Care Professionals: We need volunteer ophthalmologists, optometrists, opticians, technicians and other interested support staff.
2) Exam Equipment: We are in need of larger items such as an autorefractor, phoropters, and slit lamps. We also need smaller items such as optical dispensing tools, a frame warmer, and parts for repairing glasses.
3) New Eye Glass Frames and New Prescription Lenses
4) Financial Donations and Corporate Sponsorship: We are seeking individual and corporate support to purchase exam equipment and materials when we are unable to obtain donations for them.
5) Grant Writers: volunteers who can help us with grants to expand our funding sources.
Anyone interested in helping us may contact Sam Hahn at (949)338-9340 or e-mail me at optical@southcoasteye.com
Similar Posts:
- Transitions Optical, Santinelli and VSP Provide Mobile Eyecare
- Optician Karen Flynn Volunteers To Work With Homeless
- Why Supporting Vision Charities Is Important
- Bess the Book Bus – Transitions and Optical Partners
- Donate or Volunteer- Optical Non-Profits
Don’t forget California Vision Foundation-the cheritable branch of COA. Check the last Opticenter for their info. It’s on line too on the Vision West web site. Also there is a long list of Dr.’s in the COA magazine who participate or contribute to CVF. Just thought I’d mention it.
Linda Butler
Bravo to all those giving back!!! And thank you for the ‘mention’ in your post but ALL credit, in helping the needy of San Francisco, belongs to Karen Flynn who heads up the Vision Services for Project Homeless Connect in SF.