VISION USA™ Provides the Uninsured with No-Cost Eye Exams

MOA Home

< MOA Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contacts:
Rita Sitto
Franco Public Relations Group
O: (313) 567-6008
sitto@franco.com

VISION USA™ Provides the Uninsured with No-Cost Eye Exams

LANSING, Mich. (September 1, 2009) – With the state's current economic climate, many Michigan residents are losing the health care insurance they once relied on to maintain vision health and a good quality of life. The Michigan Optometric Association (MOA) wants to inform area residents of VISION USA™ - a public health service that provides access to eye exams to the uninsured.

"Without insurance, many people cannot afford regular visits to the optometrist," said Matthew Maki, O.D., MOA secretary-treasurer. "Without proper diagnoses and treatment, eye issues can worsen over time leading to irreversible damage and expensive treatments. To avoid that at all costs, the MOA encourages eligible families to take advantage of this no-cost service."

VISION USA™ provides access to eye exams to uninsured, low-income families who do not qualify for government aid or private health care assistance. Eligible families are matched with one of the 166 volunteer MOA optometrists throughout the state who will provide a comprehensive eye exam at no charge. Eyewear may also be provided at no cost or for a small fee.

To receive eye care services through VISION USA, applicants must:

Have a job or live in a house where there is one working member
Have no vision insurance
Have income below an established level based on household size
Not have had an eye exam within two years

“Last year, we were able to provide 763 free eye exams throughout Michigan,” said Dr. Maki. “The need for these exams is ever-growing so please don’t hesitate to apply for this public service.”

To apply for services from VISION USA™, visit www.aoa.org and click on VISION USA™ in the public health box in the left column. To find an optometrist in your area, please visit www.themoa.org.

###

About the Michigan Optometric Association
The mission of the Michigan Optometric Association is to unite all licensed optometrists and be the representative voice for the profession of optometry in Michigan. The association provides education, information and other member services to assist optometrists in practicing successfully in accordance with the highest standards of patient care; works to advance the quality and accessibility of optometric services throughout the state and seeks to ensure the recognition of optometrists as the primary providers of vision and related eye health care.

Media Center