VISION USA--optometry's national charity program.

BACKGROUND

There are an estimated 18 million uninsured working Americans and their families who are unable to afford the cost of eye care. These individuals often fall between the cracks of government and private health care assistance. Members of the American Optometric Association have developed the VISION USA program to provide free eye care to those who might otherwise not receive it.

METHODS

Nearly 8,000 doctors of optometry nationwide have volunteered to provide free eye examinations in their offices for VISION USA patients. Patients are screened for eligibility and matched to the nearest available participating doctor using a computerized ZIP code matching system. Examinations are usually provided each year during March in observance of Save Your Vision Week.

RESULTS

In the first three years of the program, services have been provided to over 115,000 individuals. For over 21 percent of the patients seen, this was their first eye examination ever. More than 86 percent of the patients had one or more vision problems. More than 70 percent were given new or updated prescriptions.

CONCLUSION

The VISION USA program is helping to meet a significant unmet need for eye care which exists within a segment of the American population. The program is an outstanding example of the willingness of doctors of optometry to give back to their communities, and to those in need, some of what they have gained from the practice of their profession.