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[PA-15] Healthy Eyes and Clear Vision For All: A Community Eye Care Initiative
Barbara Kazdan, BA, Interprofessional Fostering of Ophthalmic Care for Underserved Sectors/InFOCUS, Houston, TX
InFOCUS, 327 Tealwood Dr., Houston, TX 77024
InFOCUS, a non-profit primary eye care development organization, was named 1998 Outstanding Project by the APHA's Vision Care Section. InFOCUS works with health/social service providers to help families access eye health services, including affordable eyeglasses. The poster presentation will depict a grassroots effort using existing resources in new ways to create "Vision Stations" housed in social service centers, community ministries, and clinics. Vision Stations offer children and adults vision assessment, preventive health counseling, and referral to an eye doctor for a reduced-fee eye exam. If glasses are prescribed, low-cost prescription eyeglasses are dispensed. Proceeds of spectacle sales are used to help indigent families pay for glasses. The program is user -friendly, with minimal "red tape" for patience and providers.
The poster presentation will describe how this project is creating a new path to eye care and diabetes prevention, making eye care accessible to and affordable for the poorest families; promoting improved vision, eye health and the prevention of diabetes and other blinding conditions; linking underserved communities to eye doctors; and increasing utilization of eye health resources. InFOCUS provides training, implementation guidelines, and Vision Stations are in Houston, Abilene and rural Texas. This easy-to-replicate program brings together community organizations and ophthalmic professionals in a cooperative effort to achieve "eye care for all." Handouts: training, social marketing, and program materials.
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Date: July 10-12, 2002
Location: Hilton Hotel & Towers, Washington, DC
Sponsor: U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services, Office of Minority Health / Office of Public Health and Science
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