SEE International Brings “Eyes Of Hope” To Santa Maria For National Eye Exam Month
SANTA MARIA, Calif. (KEYT) – Roughly a hundred Santa Maria residents received free eye exams and eyewear today, courtesy of the VSP Eyes Of Hope mobile clinic.
August is national eye exam month.
“What we like to focus on especially with Back to School is getting as many kids in as possible, because we understand that 80% of learning in the classroom is visual based,” says Clark Jorgensen, VSP Vision’s Community Engagement Manager.
Santa Barbara County Public Health is collaborating with SEE International and VSP Vision to provide the services to qualifying residents.
“We've been around for 70 plus years, and our focus is to provide access to eyecare and eyewear across the country,” says Jorgensen.
Experts say both the risks of going without vision care, as well as the barriers to getting it, are worse for low income families, as well as anyone experiencing homelessness.
“We are seeing uninsured and underinsured patients today, meaning they don't have vision insurance,” says Anisha Verdialez, SEE International’s director of local and domestic programs.
The 40-foot mobile clinic was set up at Centerpointe Parkway in Santa Maria from 9 to 5 Thursday.
“It's not just glasses, it's also checking for diabetes and glaucoma other things that, you know, can really be devastating to people,” says Rupert Chowins, Noor Foundation SLO’s Vision Clinic Director.
Event organizers say nearly 1 in 10 adults avoided healthcare during the previous year, because of the cost.
“If a child can't see, they're not going to do well in school,” says Chowins. “And that's going to have a really a devastating effect on their life. If an adult can't see, they can't drive, they can't work, they can't take care of their family. So we're really here to provide free exams and vision care just for those that really need it.”
VSP Eyes Of Hope mobile clinic will be setup at the Lompoc Health Center on North ‘R’ street on Friday from 9 to 5.
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