FEBRUARY 1, 2012 (CHICAGO) – The Illinois Eye Institute welcomed 105 students from Dolton- Riverdale District 148 during the past two weeks for comprehensive eye exams, identifying more than 90 percent who required glasses but might otherwise not have had access to care.
The visits, which took place Jan. 24 and 31, were arranged by the Illinois Eye Institute Foundation, the charitable division of the IEI that supports community outreach efforts to ensure eye and vision care for underserved populations. All of the students had failed school-based vision screenings. At the IEI, they were examined, then selected glasses that will be delivered to them at school in the coming weeks. Most patients were covered by public and private insurance; however, those children without coverage had their visit and glasses covered by the IEI Foundation and VSP Vision Care. The IEIF also provided transportation for the students to the clinic.
“Our work today has enabled children to receive much-needed eye care to improve their daily lives in academics, athletics and other activities,” said Vincent Brandys, OD, executive director of the IEI Foundation. “The Illinois Eye Institute Foundation is pleased to continue its partnership with community organizations to provide eye care for those in need.”
Illinois State Representative William Davis, whose district includes the Dolton Riverdale schools, accompanied the students who visited the clinic Jan. 24. During Tuesday’s visit, Mayme Buckley, director of external affairs of the Healthcare Consortium of Illinois, observed the clinic in action with Arol Augsburger, OD, president of the Illinois College of Optometry, and discussed possible future collaborations between her organization and the IEI Foundation. The Healthcare Consortium pursues collaborative ventures to improve the quality of life for all Illinois residents.
About the Illinois Eye Institute
Illinois Eye Institute (IEI) is the clinical division of the Illinois College of Optometry. IEI is a nonprofit, multi-specialty eye center that provides comprehensive eye care to individuals of all ages from the Chicago area and beyond, regardless of their financial status. The IEI has over 92,000 visits annually from a largely low-income, medically underserved patient population and provides charitable services and outreach programs through its foundation to assist people in need. For more information about the Illinois Eye Institute, contact Dr. Vincent Brandys at 312-949-7144.
Caption for attached photo: Mayme Buckley, director of external affairs of the Healthcare Consortium of Illinois, and Arol Augsburger, OD, president of the Illinois College of Optometry, watch as a student from Dolton Riverdale School District 148 receives an eye exam during a visit to the Illinois Eye Institute in Chicago on Jan. 31.
CONTACT: Jenni Gaster Sopko (312) 949-7412, jsopko@ico.edu.
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