Senior Connections Links:
Very helpful site with general descriptions of some eye conditions and
Some resource Links:
Website: www.seniorconnections-va.org/caregivers/eyeexams.htm

To secure financial assistance to assess or treat an eye problem, you might contact one or more of the following programs, You may also contact a social worker at a local hospital or other community agency. Social workers often are knowledgeable about community resources that can help people facing financial and medical problems.

Lions Club International
300 22nd Street
Oak Brook, IL 60523-8842
Phone:(630) 571-5466
Many Lions Clubs have chosen vision care as their primary charitable focus. The availability of Lions services and eligibility requirements vary from community to community. Use your local telephone directory (see Fraternal Organizations) to find local chapters or call the National Office.

Eye Exams:

Medicare Glaucoma Benefit
Phone: (800) 633-4227
Web site: http://www.medicare.gov
People at high risk for glaucoma include those with diabetes or a family history of glaucoma, or African Americans age 50 or older. Medicare will pay for an eye exam to check for glaucoma once every 12 months. Patients must pay 20 percent of the Medicare-approved amount after the yearly Part B deductible.

The American Academy of Ophthalmology
Website: www.aao.org
Also see the AAO Journal online: www.aaojournal.org/
Another interesting and useful site is their Library, which contains:
General Information - intended for the general public, more in depth information on specific eye conditions than what is available in handouts.
Physicians Information intended for physicians and medical students, on the diagnosis and treatment of specific eye conditions.
Advanced Information intended for research, medical students, and advanced patients with knowledge of medicine. review published papers and articles online.
Website: www.medem.com/MedLB/bufferpage_aao.cfm
I should also note that the Eye Net that was origionaly located at "www.eyenet.org" has moved to: www.aao.org/EyeNet

EyeCare America
P.O. Box 429098
San Francisco, CA 94142
Phone: (800) 222-EYES (3937)
Fax 415-561-8567
Web site: http://www.eyecareamerica.org
Eye Care America - The National Eye Care Project, coordinated by the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) provides free and low-cost eye exams for U.S. citizens 65 and older, who have not had access to an ophthalmologist in the past three years.

Celebrate Sight: Do You Know Your Glaucoma Risk?
coordinated by the American Academy of Ophthalmology, is a program offering free examinations and treatment for glaucoma to people who do not have medical insurance.
Phone: (800) 391-EYES (3937).
Web site: www.aao.org/public/glaucoma/gl_2001.html

The Seniors EyeCare Program, which provides free eye care educational materials and facilitates access to eye care at no out-of-pocket expense. People eligible receive an eye exam and up to one year of treatment for any disease diagnosed during the initial exam. Ophthalmologists who provide care accept Medicare and/or other insurance reimbursement as payment in full. Patients without insurance receive care at no cost.

American Optometric Association
243 North Lindbergh Boulevard
St. Louis, MO 63141
Phone: (314) 991-4100
Phone: (800) 766-4466.
Fax 314-991-4101
AOA Website: http://www.aoa.org
Vision USA - A program sponsered in part by the American Optometric Association
(800) 766-4466
Website: http://www.cao.org/visionusa/
E-mail: [email protected]
the Connecticut Association of Optometrists and the American Optometric Association have expanded VISION USA, and the low-income working Americans who can't afford the cost of basic vision care can get it, free of charge, at any time of year. Now a year-around program, VISION USA can help these people by providing 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.

Sight for Students, Vision Service Plan (VSP)
Phone: (888) 290-4964
Web site: http://www.SightforStudents.org
eye exams and glasses to children 18 years and younger whose families cannot afford vision care.

LensCrafters: Gift of Sight
Phone: (800) 522-LENS (5367)
Web site: http://www.GivetheGiftofSight.org
LensCrafters doctors and associates collect and recycle old glasses, execute optical missions in developing countries, offer vision screening at health fairs, and provide new glasses to pre-selected needy people in LensCrafters stores and their two mobile "Vision Vans." To become a recipient, contact the Gift of Sight store captain at the LensCrafters store nearest you. For an online store locator, go to http://www.lenscrafters.com/CompanyInfo/Ci_Find_a_Store.cfm on the Internet.

Eye Glasses:

LensCrafters: Gift of Sight
Phone: (800) 522-LENS (5367)
Website: http://www.GivetheGiftofSight.org

New Eyes for the Needy
549 Millburn Avenue
P.O. Box 332
Short Hills, NJ 07078-0332
Phone: (973) 376-4903
Fax (973) 376-3807
Accepts donations of used prescription eyeglasses and distributes them to persons overseas with limited incomes. Also offers a voucher program for USA residents in need of prescription glasses. Contact New Eyes for the Needy to receive an application. Submit a completed application along with an eyeglass prescription from your doctor. Recipients must have a letter of referral from a social services agency. If your application is approved, you will receive a voucher to cover the cost of glasses.

SCHIP - State Children's Health Insurance Program
Phone: (877) KIDS-NOW
In this program, eligible children receive regular checkups, doctor visits, immunizations, prescription drug coverage, eyeglasses, and hospital care. To find the CHIP program in your state, go online to http://www.cms.hhs.gov/schip/consumers_default.asp

Surgery

The Hill Burton Program
Health Resources and Services Administration
4350 East West Highway
Bethesda, MD 20814
Phone: (301) 443-5656
Fax (301) 443-0619
Participating hospitals and other health care facilities provide medical care for free, or at reduced cost, to those who meet eligibility requirements. Procedures covered vary from hospital to hospital.

Volunteer Eye Surgeons Association
Mission Cataract USA
Phone: (800) 343-7265
A program coordinated by the Volunteer Eye Surgeons' Association providing free cataract surgery to people of all ages who have no other means to pay. Surgeries are scheduled annually on one day, usually in May. (Note: When phoning the above number, a recording announcing "Personalized InfoMedia" will ask you to leave a message in order to be called back.) The Volunteer Eye Surgeons' Association (VESA) is an affiliation of volunteer eye surgeons and voluntary Eye Care Organizations who have a common interest in curing and preventing blindness around the world. Individual members and organizations donate their time and services free of charge. VESA annual meetings are held in conjunction with the American Academy of Ophthalmology at which time useful techniques and information are shared between the members in a day long free and open forum of lectures and slide presentations. The original idea for the One World Sight Project (OWSP) was initially presented by invitation at their first meeting ten years ago. It was because of the support and encouragement of VESA members that OWSP has continued to progress over the past decade.

Celebrate Sight: Do you know your glaucoma risk?
American Academy of Ophthamology
(800) 391-EYES
Program provides glaucoma exams and treatment to the uninsured.

Knights Templar Eye Foundation
5097 North Elston Avenue -
Suite 100,
Chicago, IL 60630-2460.
Phone: (773) 205-3838.
E-Mail: [email protected]
Web site: www.knightstemplar.org/ktef
Knights Templar Eye Foundation provides assistance for eye surgery for people who are unable to pay or receive adequate assistance from current government agencies or similar sources.

Prescription Drug Assistance

The Medicine Program
PO Box 4182
Poplar Bluff, MO. 63902-4182
(573) 996-7300
www.themedicineprogram.com
E-Mail: [email protected]
Assists people to enroll in 1 or more of the many patient assistance programs that provide prescription medicine free of charge to those in need. Patients must meet the sponsor's criteria. Conducted in cooperation with the patient's doctor.

Directory of Prescription Drug Patient Assistance Programs 1999-2000
Phone: (800) PMA-INFO (762-4636) published by Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, identifies company programs that provide prescription medications free-of-charge to physicians for their needy patients. A copyof the directory is available online at www.phrma.org/patients

HelpingPatients.org
Web site: http://www.helpingpatients.org
A new interactive website offered by the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) and 48 of its member companies. This site was designed to help patients find medication assistance programs for which they may qualify.

State Pharmaceutical Assistance Programs
Web site: http://www.ncsl.org/programs/health/drugaid.htm
National Conference of State Legislatures provides general information on state drug assistance programs for low-income people.

Suggestions for Finding Resources in Your Community
County Medical Society
State Ophthalmological Society
Provide referrals to ophthalmologists. Some medical societies and ophthalmological societies maintain listings of practices that accept Medicaid or Medicare, or provide free or low-cost eye examinations.
State Optometric Association
Provides referrals to optometrists. Some optometric associations have information about local programs that provide free or low-cost eye examinations.

Email: [email protected]