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The Ohio Department of Health (ODH)
Hearing and Vision Coordinator
246 N. High Street P.O. Box 118 6th
Floor
Columbus, OH 43216-0118
614-644-6560
www.odh.state.oh.us
ODH offers Vision Specialty Clinics
which are held in 26 Ohio counties. These are diagnostic eye clinics
which provide eye examinations for referred children. The clinical staff
includes and optometrist, ophthalmologist, public health nurse and an
ODH vision consultant. The frequency of clinic scheduling is dependent
on local need and the availability of resources. After examination of
the patient, the eye specialist makes recommendations for treatment.
These may include eyeglasses, patching, surgery, medication, further
evaluation and referral or simply observation. Programs for the purchase
of eyeglasses are offered to those in financial need. Follow-up is
provided by local public health nurses. When needed, application is made
to Healthy Start and Bureau for Children with Medical handicaps (BCMH)
for assistance with treatment costs.
Prevent Blindness Ohio
Vision Care Outreach Coordinator
1500 W. Third Ave #200
Columbus, OH 43212
614-464-2020
www.preventblindness.org
Through a unique partnership with
Vision Service Plan, Prevent Blindness Ohio offers free eye care and eye
wear through a program called Sight For Students. Children who are in
need of eye care are identified by individuals in a network of partners
(schools, local health departments, day care centers, Head Starts, etc.)
across Ohio. These children must meet eligibility guidelines, and an
application must be completed and submitted. Prevent Blindness Ohio then
serves as a liaison, and screens all applications. Then, a voucher for
eye care services is issued to the child in need. The child’s family can
make an appointment with any Vision Service Plan doctor.
American Optometric Association
Vision USA Program
245 N. Lindbergh Blvd.
St. Louis, MO 03141
1-800-766-4466
www.aoanet.org
Vision USA is a non-profit, tax exempt
charity developed by Doctors of Optometry who are members of the
American Optometric Association. The sole purpose of Vision USA is to
provide basic eye health and vision care services free of charge to the
many uninsured low income people and their families who have no other
means of obtaining care. Optometrists across Ohio offer these valuable
services during Save Your Vision Week observed annually during the first
full week in March, however application and eligibility screening must
take place during the month of January. Potential applicants may
complete the application and eligibility screening process online or via
a national toll-free hotline.
American Academy
of Ophthalmology
EyeCare America – National Eye Care
Project
P.O. Box 429098
San Fransisco, CA 94142-9098
1-800-222-EYES (3937)
www.eyenet.org
The National Eye Care Project (NECP) is
a nationwide outreach program designed to provide medical eye care to
the nation’s senior citizens. Referrals are available to U.S. citizens
or legal residents age 65 or older who do not have access to an
ophthalmologist in three years or more. Within one week of contacting
the Helpline, eligible callers will be mailed the name of a volunteer
ophthalmologist in their area with instructions for making an
appointment. These doctors will provide a comprehensive examination and
one year of treatment for any condition diagnosed at the time of the
initial visit. Qualified patients receive treatment at no out-of-pocket
expense.
Knights Templar
Eye Foundation, Inc.
5097 N. Elston Ave #100
Chicago, IL 60630-2460
773-205-3838
www.knightstemplar.org/ktef
The Knights Templar Eye Foundation,
Inc. strives to provide assistance to those who face loss of sight due
to the need of surgical treatment without regard to race, color, creed,
age, sex or national origin provided they are unable to pay or receive
adequate assistance from current government agencies or similar sources.
Financial eligibility requirements must be met and application must be
made before surgery is performed. The applicant is to select the doctor
and the doctor must also indicate their willingness to participate in
this charitable program.
Ohio LIONS
4074 Hoover Rd.
Grove City, OH 43123
614-539-5060
lionoffice@juno.com
The International Association of LIONS
Clubs is the largest and most active service club organization in the
world. Comprising more than 1.4 million members from over 170 countries,
The International Association of LIONS Clubs is dedicated to serving
those that are less fortunate. LIONS clubs and their members conduct a
variety of humanitarian projects to better their communities as well as
the international community, in general. The major service commitment is
toward the prevention of and recovery from blindness. Toward this goal,
the LIONS support research into the prevention, treatment and cure of
eye disease. Local LIONS clubs often provide direct financial support
for eye care and eye wear for children in need in their communities. |
